Upset bid falls just short

Sunday, January 25

Knoxville, TN

10 AM

Middle Tennessee

Tennessee

1/25/2015 5:03:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Blue Raiders fall 4-3 at No. 33 Tennessee

By: @MTAthletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee fell just short of its upset bid against No. 33 Tennessee, falling 4-3 here Sunday.

The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Blue Raiders (3-2), who split the six singles matches but dropped the doubles point.

"Today was a tough match against a good, experienced Tennessee team," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Shelley Godwin said. "I'm proud of the way we have competed against two of the top teams in the country (Auburn and Tennessee) early in the year and we will use these experiences to help us move forward throughout the season."

Tennessee opened the match with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to go up 1-0. Joanna Henderson and Caitlyn Williams turned back Middle Tennessee's Jesse Grace and Brittany Huxley, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles. Lady Vols Tiffany Tavares and Victoria Olivarez defeated Blue Raiders Nayara Moraes and Giulia Squadrin, 6-1, at No. 3 doubles.

Middle Tennessee's Tiffany William and Darya Shulzhanok were tied 3-3 in their doubles match against Eve Repic and Laurence Guevremont but it went unfinished after Tennessee secured the overall point.

The singles matches were outstanding as the teams split with Middle Tennessee winning taking victories at No. 1, 2 and 6.

No. 67-ranked Tiffany William won a gut-wrenching 6-4, 7-5 decision against Tennessee Joanna Henderson at No. 1 singles, ending Henderson's career-high six-game win streak.

Newcomer Darya Shulzhanok continued her impressive work with a 6-4, 6-4 win against No. 40-ranked Eve Repic at No. 2 to extend her winning streak to four while ending Repic's four-game win streak.

"I'm especially happy with the job Tiffany and Darya have done at the top of the lineup," Godwin said. "Darya has shown a lot of fight and poise early on to provide a spark for our team. That fighting spirit helped her to a big win over a great player in Repic from Tennessee. I looking forward to seeing this team continue to grow and improve with every match this season."

Senior standout Nayara Moraes also earned a victory. Moraes sailed past Tavares, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 6 singles.

Middle Tennessee's Jesse Grace dropped a 6-0, 6-1 decision to Williams at No. 3; Giulia Squadrin lost 6-3, 6-1 at No. 4; and Brittany Huxley lost 6-4, 6-2 at No. 5.

The Blue Raiders will face Georgia State in Atlanta Friday.

Tennessee 4, Middle Tennessee 3
Singles
1. #67 Tiffany William, MTSU, def. Joanna Henderson, UT, 6-4, 7-5
2. Darya Shulzhanok, MTSU, def. Eve Repic, UT, 6-4, 6-4
3. Caitlyn Williams, UT, def. Jesse Grace, MTSU, 6-0, 6-1
4. Victoria Olivarez, UT, def. Giulia Squadrin, MTSU, 6-3, 6-1
5. Laurence Guevremont, UT, def. Brittany Huxley, MTSU, 6-4, 6-2
6. Nayara Moraes, MTSU, def. Tiffany Tavares, UT, 6-1, 6-3

Doubles
1. Henderson/Williams, UT, def. Grace/Huxley, MTSU, 6-1
2. Repic/Guevremont, UT, vs. William/Shulzhanok, MTSU, 3-3 unf.
3. Tavares/Olivarez, UT, def. Moraes/Squadrin, MTSU, 6-1

Order of Finish Doubles (3, 1); Singles (4, 3, 6, 5, 2, 1)