Raiders fall short to South Alabama

Sunday, January 19

Naples, Fla.

10 AM

Middle Tennessee

South Alabama

1/19/2020 3:03:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score Results (PDF)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Middle Tennessee women's tennis fell short to South Alabama in the final day in the sunshine state on Sunday.

Collecting a strong start, the Blue Raiders earned the doubles point over the Jaguars with victories on courts 1 and 2.

Sisters Lee Barnard and Zani Barnard defeated South Alabama duo, Fujioka/Kohoutova, 6-2 followed by seniors Lidia Burrows and Marta Peris Herrero winning on court 2 over Jaguar pair, Pasanen/Takanishi, 6-4.

With a 1-0 lead heading into singles, South Alabama instantly won back-to-back matches to take the lead 2-1 over the Raiders.

Freshman Noelle Mauro debuted in her second match of the 2020 spring season competing on court 6 against USA's Leslie Soto. Mauro quickly tied the match up, taking straight sets over Soto, 6-1, 6-4.

Marta Peris Herrero battled against Yurie Takanishi clinched the lead for the Blue Raiders, 3-2. She clinched her matchup in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4.

Following Lidia Burrows's loss on court 3, Burrows came short to USA's Takanishi in a hard fought three set match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

With the score tied at 3 all, it all came down to Muskan Gupta for the second match in a row. Gupta battled against Diana Monsalve on court 5. Gupta won the first set, 6-4, Monsalve responded in the second, 7-6.

Deciding the match in the third set, South Alabama earned the victory over Gupta in tiebreaker, 7-5, clinching the match for the Jaguars.

The Blue Raiders are back in action Jan. 25 in the home opener. Competing against Tennessee State at 4 p.m.

Follow along as the Raiders prepare by following @MT_WomensTennis on Twitter and Instagram.