Blue Raiders defeat in-state foe Austin Peay

Sunday, January 30

Evansville, Ind.

2:30 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

Austin Peay

Photo by: Nathan Wallach/Athletic Communications

1/31/2022 9:53:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Alex Morgan, MT Athletic Communications

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Middle Tennessee women's tennis (2-5) complete a come from behind victory over Austin Peay 4-3 on Sunday, Jan. 30 inside the Wesselman Tennis Complex.

Austin Peay jumped the Blue Raiders early in the match taking two of the doubles courts to give the Govs the one-point advantage heading into singles. MT displayed a change in the doubles lineup in the match, Junior Noelle Mauro moved into the top court paired with Senior Lee Barnard, this was their first appearance on court No. 1 and suffered a 6-4 defeat.

In singles, Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee went neck and neck throughout the duration of the singles portion. Junior Muskan Gupta fell to APSU's Denise Torrealba in two sets 6-1, 6-0 to give the Govs a two-point lead over MT.

On the Blue Raider top singles court, L. Barnard took down Jana Leder 6-2, 6-3 to break the ice for the first MT point. Minutes later, Sophomore Lilly-Sophie Schmidt handled business on court No. 6 in two sets 6-3, 6-1. At this point the match became tied at two points apiece.

Senior Zani Barnard lost her match in two sets 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 to give the advantage back to Austin Peay at 3-2.

The match came down to court No. 3 Love-Star Alexis and No. 5 Mauro where the Blue Raiders needed both points to claim the match. On both courts they were taken to three sets, Mauro equalized the match at three all with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win.

Alexis clinched the match for MT and gave the Blue Raiders the win with a 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 dominant finish on court No. 3.

Next up
Middle Tennessee women's tennis returns home to take on three-straight home matches against IUPUI on Friday, Feb. 4 at 1:00 p.m. CT. To round out the other matches, the next day the Blue Raiders will host UT Martin and Alabama A&M in a double-header on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1 & 5:00 p.m. CT. Admission is free inside the Adams Tennis Complex all season.

Singles competition
1. Lee Barnard (MTSU) def. LEDER, Jana (APSU) 6-2, 6-3
2. TORREALBA, Denise (APSU) def. Muskan Gupta (MTSU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Love-Star Alexis (MTSU) def. TOPALOVIC, Aleks (APSU) 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
4. PALADINI-JENNINGS, M (APSU) def. Zani Barnard (MTSU) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
5. Noelle Mauro (MTSU) def. NAKANISHI, Honoka (APSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
6. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt (MTSU) def. CHENG, Yu-Hua (APSU) 6-3, 6-1
Singles (2,1,6,4,5,3)

Doubles competition
1. LEDER, Jana/TOPALOVIC, Aleks (APSU) def. Noelle Mauro/Lee Barnard (MTSU) 6-4
2. TORREALBA, D./NAKANISHI, H. (APSU) vs. Eloise Swarbrick/Zani Barnard (MTSU) 6-5, unf.
3. PALADINI, M/CHENG, Yu-Hua (APSU) def. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt/Muskan Gupta (MTSU) 6-3
Doubles (1,3)

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