Blue Raiders Grind Out a 4-3 Thriller

Friday, March 8

San Diego, CA / Aztec Tennis Center

4 PM

Middle Tennessee

San Diego State

3/8/2019 8:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Middle Tennessee's women's tennis grinded out a back and forth match against San Diego State as Lidia Burrows comes in clutch to clinch the 4-3 win over the Aztecs Saturday afternoon.

The Aztecs took the first point in the match by winning at No. 2 and 3 doubles, both by a score of 6-4. Costanza Magazzini and Zani Barnard were moments away from claiming their match at No. 1 but were unable to finish. Saturday's match marks the first time this season the Blue Raiders have won a match despite dropping the doubles point.

After the Aztecs claimed the first point, the Blue Raiders came out in singles with a strong momentum swing as Zani Barnard and Luisa Zirilli quickly took their matches in straight sets. Zirilli has now won five-straight singles matches pushing her to a team leading eight wins on the season.
SDSU responded by taking wins in singles No. 6 and 3 to put the Aztec on the doorstep of their seventh win.

Costanza Magazzini had a different idea as she tied the match at three apiece when she won a decider at No. 2 in a three set battle. She easily claimed the first set by a score of 6-2 but Jenny Moinard of SDSU responded by taking the second, 6-4. With confidence, Magazzini iced it with a strong 6-3 clincher in the final set setting up Lidia Burrows on No. 1 for the match winner.

With the match on the line, junior Lidia Burrows carried the pressure to perfection. She won the first set 6-4 but she than looked to close it out in the second. Shakhnoza Khatamova had different plans as she took the second set in a 7-5 tiebreaker setting up a dramatic third set. The third set was back and forth till 3-3, but Burrows buckled up and scored three straight points to give the Blue Raiders their fifth win.

Singles competition
1. Lidia Burrows (MTS) def. Shakhnoza Khatamova (SDSU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
2. Costanza Magazzini (MTS) def. Jenny Moinard (SDSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
3. Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) def. Kim Kermet (MTS) 6-1, 6-4
4. Zani Barnard (MTS) def. Alicia Melosch (SDSU) 6-3, 6-0
5. Luisa Zirilli (MTS) def. Magda Aubets (SDSU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Abbie Mulbarger (SDSU) def. Lee Barnard (MTS) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Alicia Melosch/Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) vs. Costanza Magazzini/Zani Barnard (MTS) 5-6, unfinished
2. Shakhnoza Khatamova/Jenny Moinard (SDSU) def. Kim Kermet/Luisa Zirilli (MTS) 6-4
3. Magda Aubets/Abbie Mulbarger (SDSU) def. Lidia Burrows/Marta Peris Herrero (MTS) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,5,6,3,2,1)

Up next
The Blue Raiders continue their road trip by flying east to West Virginia to play against Marshall (March 15). Then finish the trip with a travel down south to challenge Tulane in New Orleans.

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