Raiders Win Fourth Straight

Wednesday, March 4

Chattanooga, TN

2 PM

Middle Tennessee

Chattanooga

3/4/2015 7:50:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Women's Tennis Knocks Off Chattanooga, 5-2

By: @MTAthletics

CHATTANOOGA – Middle Tennessee earned its first national ranking in five years Tuesday, and then went out and played like one of the nation's better teams in a 5-2 win against Chattanooga Wednesday.

The No. 65-ranked Blue Raiders (12-3) won their fourth straight while dealing Chattanooga (7-2) just its second loss in nine matches.

Nayara Moraes (12-0) remained undefeated, while Darya Shulzhanok (12-1), Giulia Squadrin (11-3), Tiffany William (9-4) and Brittany Huxley (10-4) added to their win totals.

"It was a good team win," Blue Raider Head Coach Shelley Godwin said. "We really competed hard and earned a good road win. It is always tough on the road but the players were focused."

The Mocs struck first and earned the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and 2.

Huxley evened the match with a dominant straight set 6-0, 6-0 triumph against Claire Mulyadi at No. 5 singles. William gave the Blue Raiders a 2-1 edge with a 6-1, 6-3 win against Chattanooga's Kayla Jones at No. 1 singles.

Chattanooga got the match back to even when Kaylene Chadwell came from behind to beat Jess Grace 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3.

Middle Tennessee players were strong down the stretch and won three straight to seal the 5-2 victory.

Squadrin gave Middle Tennessee the lead for good with a well-played and hard-fought match against Samantha Caswell at No. 4 singles. Squadrin took the first set 6-3 but dropped the second 6-4. She bounced back strong in the decisive third set to capture a 6-2 victory and propel the Blue Raiders into the lead.

Shulzhanok and Moraes sealed the win but it wasn't easy.

Shulzhanok lost her first set to Chattanooga's Kelsey Coots at No. 2 singles, but she stormed back to take the second set, 7-5. She rolled to a 6-0 win in the third set to clinch the victory for Middle Tennessee.

Moraes closed it out with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 win against Alison Storie. Moraes leads C-USA in wins with 12. It was her 78^th career victory and pulled her to within five of tying Manon Kruse's career mark of 83. The Blue Raiders also lead the league in team victories (12).
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