Blue Raiders fall in season opener against FAU

Saturday, January 15

Fort Myers, Fla.

11:00 a.m.

Middle Tennessee

Florida Atlantic

1/15/2022 4:11:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Noelle Mauro earns first victory on the season

By: Alex Morgan, MT Athletic Communications

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Middle Tennessee women's tennis (0-1) falls to Conference USA foe Florida Atlantic (1-0) in the season opener 6-1 at the FGCU Tennis Complex.

Heach Coach Tayo Bailey-Duvall unveiled her opening day lineups prior to the dual match, the Blue Raiders were led by a predominantly upper-classman roster. Duvall on the loss today, "Overall we play very solid, but just fell short of consistently executing final shots to win points. FAU is a solid conference foe that we haven't competed against in years and expected it to be a good fight, which it was. We have some areas to tighten up before Monday's match and looking for more success against Georgia State."

In doubles competition, courts No. 2 Junior Noelle Mauro and Senior Zani Barnard finished first but fell 6-4 to Lexi Silna and Greta Shieronu of FAU. On court No. 3 Muskan Gupta and Lilly-Sophie Schmidt dropped their match 6-3 to give the Owls the doubles point. The Blue Raider top court consisting of Senior Lee Barnard and Junior Love-Star Alexis was a tight 5-4 set before being declared unfinished.

To open singles play, Florida Atlantic continued their hot streak throughout the FGCU courts. FAU won four 4-of-6 first singles sets, dropping only courts No. 5 and 6 in the set. Senior Lee Barnard battled on court No. 1 against Martina Kudelova, the set was stalled 6-6 before Kudelova defeated Barnard 7-5 in an additional tiebreaker set 7-5.

Middle Tennessee was also dealt singles losses on courts Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5. Junior Alexis and Senior Zani Barnard fell in two sets. Gupta and Schmidt took their opponents to three sets, but ultimately getting bested by FAU.

Mauro was the lone Blue Raider with a victory in the dual match, the Marietta, Ga. native defeated Amber McGinnis in three sets 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 1-0 (10-6).

The Blue Raiders look to bounce back on Monday, Jan. 17 at 8 a.m. against Georgia State at the FGCU Tennis Complex in Fort Myers, Fla. before returning home.

Singles Results

1. Kudelove, Martina (FAU) def. Barnard, Lee (MT) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1

2. Filip, Katerina (FAU) def. Alexis, Love-Star (MT) 6-3, 6-0

3. Silina, Lexi (FAU) def. Barnard, Zani (MT) 6-2, 6-0

4. Schieroni, Greta (FAU) def. Gupta, Muskan (MT) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)

5. Noelle Mauro (MT) def. McGinnis, Amber (FAU) 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)

6. Matthews, Millie-Mae (FAU) def. Schmidt, Lilly-Sophie (MT) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6)

Doubles Results

1. Barnard, Zani/Alexis, Love-Star (MT) vs. Kudelova, Martina/Filip, Katerina (FAU) 5-4, unfinished.

2. Schieroni, Greta/Silina, Lexi (FAU) def. Mauro, Noelle/Barnard, Lee (MT) 6-4

3. McGinnis, Amber/Matthews, Millie-Mae (FAU) def. Schmidt, Lilly-Sophie/Gupta, Muskan (MT) 6-3

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