MT suffers tough setback

Friday, April 17

2 PM

Middle Tennessee

FIU

4/17/2015 6:39:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Blue Raiders fall in quarterfinals, 4-3

By: @MTAthletics

HOUSTON – Unless Middle Tennessee earns an at-large berth into a NCAA Regional then one of the most successful seasons in program history came to an excruciating end at the C-USA Women's Tennis Championship Friday.

The Blue Raiders (19-5) suffered a gut-wrenching 4-3 setback against the Golden Panthers (13-7) in a match that went down to the final set of the final match.

The quarterfinal setback was one of the most competitive matches of the season between two of the top five seeds. Middle Tennessee was the fourth seed, and FIU was fifth, and the evenly-matched teams provided a spirited and competitive competition.

Middle Tennessee's strength in singles was not an asset against FIU as Brittany Huxley and Sarah Sediri earned the only singles victories. Three of the matches went three sets and three sets required tiebreakers.

"It was a tough one to lose," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Shelley Godwin said. "We knew it would be a tough, competitive match, and it was. I am proud of our team. The players really put forth tremendous effort, as they have all season."

The match started well enough as Middle Tennessee captured the doubles point. Jesse Grace and Sarah Sediri teamed to take down FIU's Carlotta Orlando and Valentina Briceno, 8-3, at No. 3 doubles. Brittany Huxley and Nayara Moraes made quick work of Nerma Caluk and Katlin Brozowich, 8-2, to clinch the double points.

FIU evened the match when Yana Koroleva turned back Tiffany William, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 1 singles, but the Blue Raiders quickly regained the lead when Sediri won her second singles match in two days, defeating Valentina Briceno, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. The win provided a 2-1 lead.

The teams continued to battle back and forth.

FIU got even again when Carlotta Orlando defeated Darya Shulzhanok in a back-and-forth match at No. 2. The duel ended with Orlando claiming a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) win to even the slate, 2-2.

Huxley put Middle Tennessee back on top, 3-2, when she came from behind to win an impressive three-set match, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Middle Tennessee needed one win with two matches remaining and two seniors involved to keep their season alive, and both Jesse Grace and Nayara were involved in three-set marathons.

Both players put up valiant efforts but it wasn't meant to be as each suffered tough setbacks. Grace had a great rally in the first set against Nina Dagode. Trailing 3-0 and 5-1, Grace came back to win the set 7-6 (7-5), but she dropped the next two sets as FIU evened the score, 3-3.

It came down to Moraes, the program's all-time wins leader. Moraes won the first set 6-2 and was on the cusp of taking the second set but lost 7-6 in a 7-5 tiebreaker. She dropped the third set 6-3 as FIU earned the match victory.

2015 C-USA Women's Tennis Championship
Houston, Texas
FIU 4, MT 3
Singles Competition
1. Yana Koroleva (FIU) def. Tiffany William (MT) 6-4, 6-1
2. Carlotta Orlando (FIU) def. Darya Shulzhanok (MT) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
3. Nina Nagode (FIU) def. Jesse Grace (MT) 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-1
4. Brittany Huxley (MT) def. Nerma Caluk (FIU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
5. Kaitlin Brozovich (FIU) def. Nayara Moraes (MT) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
6. Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Valentina Briceno (FIU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles Competition
1. Tiffany William/Darya Shulzhanok (MT) vs. #85 Yana Koroleva/Nina Nagode (FIU) 5-7, unfinished
2. Brittany Huxley/Nayara Moraes (MT) def. Nerma Caluk/Kaitlin Brozovich (FIU) 8-2
3. Jesse Grace/Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Carlotta Orlando/Valentina Briceno (FIU) 8-3