Netters Win Fourth Straight

Friday, February 13

Norfolk, VA

4 PM

Middle Tennessee

Old Dominion

2/13/2015 9:17:00 PM | Women's Tennis

MT Downs Old Dominion, 5-2

By: @MTAthletics

NORFOLK, Va. – Middle Tennessee continued its exceptionally strong play at the outset of the 2015 spring season with a 5-2 win at Old Dominion Friday afternoon.

The Blue Raiders (7-2) won their fourth straight match and continued to receive consistent solid play throughout the lineup under Head Coach Shelley Godwin. Nayara Moraes and Darya Shulzhanok remained undefeated in singles play as the Blue Raiders were clicking on all cylinders.

"This is a great team win," Godwin said. "We fought hard against a dangerous ODU team and were able to come through at the big moments. It's important for us to take this momentum into (Saturday's) match against VCU)."

Middle Tennessee will face VCU at 1 p.m. to wrap up a tough two-game swing.

The Blue Raiders have won the doubles point in each match during the win streak. Friday was no different. Giulia Squadrin and Jesse Grace easily disposed of Ivana Vukovic and Faith Atiso, 6-0, at No. 3 doubles. ODU's No. 2 doubles team turned back MT's Brittany Huxley and Nayara Moraes, 6-4, to even the doubles matches.

Tiffany William and Darya Shulzhanok were in a tight match at No. 1 doubles but they outlast Borislava Botusharova and Adriana Rajkovic, 6-4, to give the Middle Tennessee the much-needed doubles point and a 1-0 lead. William and Shulzhanok improved to 5-0 overall in doubles play.

Middle Tennessee's Nayara Moraes added to her C-USA lead in wins with a 6-0, 6-1 decision against Atiso at No. 6 singles. Moraes improved to 8-0 with the victory and gave Middle Tennessee a 2-0 lead.

Huxley defeated Vukovic, 6-7, 6-2, 10-8 to push Middle Tennessee's advantage to 3-0. Old Dominion finally got on the board when Botusharova, ranked No. 116 nationally, defeated William, 6-1, 6-3, to provide a glimmer of hope for ODU.

Shulzhanok extinguished the glimmer when a 6-4, 6-3 triumph against Rajkovic at No. 2 singles to clinch the match for Middle Tennessee. Shulzhanok improved to 7-0 in singles play.

Jesse Grace dropped a tough three-set decision to Vojcinakova at No. 3 singles, 1-6, 6-4, 8-10. Giulia Squadrin capped the match with an impressive three-set victory, 6-7, 6-2, 10-8 victory at No. 4 singles, improving to 7-1 in singles play.

SCOREBOARD
MIDDLE TENNESSEE: 5     OLD DOMINION 2
SINGLES:
1. No. 116 Borislava Botusharova (ODU) def. Tiffany William (MT) 6-1, 6-3
2. Darya Shulzhanok (MT) def. Adriana Rajkovic (ODU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Ingrid Vojcinakova (ODU) def. Jesse Grace (MT) 6-1, 4-6, 10-8
4. Giulia Squadrin (MT) def. Marijana Novakovic (ODU) 6-7, 6-2, 10-8
5. Brittany Huxley (MT) def. Ivana Vukovic (ODU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Nayara Moraes (MT) def. Faith Atiso (ODU) 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES
1. Tiffany William/Darya Shulzhanok (MT) def. Borislava Botusharova/Adriana Rajkovic (ODU) 6-4
2. Ingrid Vojcinakova/Marijana Novakovic (ODU) def. Brittany Huxley/Nayara Moraes (MT) 6-4
3. Giulia Squadrin/Jesse Grace (MT) def. Ivana Vukovic/Faith Atiso (ODU) 6-0