An important day of firsts lifts Middle Tennessee to first win of the season over Kennesaw State

Friday, February 5

Murfreesboro, TN

12 PM

Middle Tennessee

Kennesaw State

2/5/2021 9:50:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Murfreesboro, Tenn.—Things looked bleak this afternoon for the Lady Raiders. After taking the doubles point, Middle Tennessee fell behind by an overall score of 2-1 and were in danger of dropping the match. That's when a pair of it's brightest young stars stepped up to guide them to four straight singles-clinching points to take the match against Kennesaw State 5-2 at home for the Lady Raiders first win of the season.

After falling 7-6 in her first set, sophomore Noelle Mauro took her final two sets, each by a 6-1 mark, to give the Lady Raiders the all-important fourth point of the match. Mauro's first singles victory of the season couldn't have come at a more opportune time.

Redshirt freshman Love-Star Alexis earned her first singles victory of the season, as well, preceding Mauro to give Middle Tennessee its' second point of the afternoon, tying Kennesaw State. The Lady Raiders didn't look back after Alexis' win on court five, as seniors Lidia Burrows and Zani Barnard also earned singles victories. It was both seniors' first singles victories on the year.

For Burrows, it was singles win number 80 in her career, as she took down Kennesaw State's Valentina Taddia in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-1).

Barnard earned her first win in three sets, the last point of the afternoon for the Lady Raiders, by a score of 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

Middle Tennessee returns to action tomorrow for its' first Conference USA matchup of the year as it welcomes Marshall to the Adams Tennis Complex at 2:00 p.m. Ten percent of normal fan capacity will be allowed and the match will be available to watch on CUSA.tv.

🎵𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 🎶

✅ Doubles point
✅ Four singles wins
✅ First W of the season

🔵#BlueRaiders⚪️ pic.twitter.com/K5nPA4nISS
— MT Women's Tennis (@MT_WomensTennis) February 5, 2021