Blue Raiders Take Down Ball State for Second Straight Win

Sunday, February 20

Noon

Middle Tennessee

Ball State

Photo by: Matt Posey/MT Athletic Communications

2/20/2022 5:44:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Alex Morgan, MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee women's tennis (8-6, 1-2) gets revenge on Ball State (4-2) by score of 4-3 on Sunday afternoon inside the Adams Tennis Complex.

"I am very proud of the girls' performance today and this weekend overall. We have been working very hard on mental toughness and playing strategically smart, and today they all showed great growth in those areas," Head Coach Tayo Bailey-Duvall said. "Ball State has always been a tough team and the girls knew that today would be a fight. I am happy we won the fight."

With the win, the Blue Raiders have now won five of their last six matches and are peaking before they take an extended road trip that will have the team away from the ATC until April 16th. "As we prepare for a number of matches on the road, we take the momentum and growth from this match and continue to push forward. There is always room for improvement, and we will continue to improve looking forward to the conference tournament." Duvall said.

Middle Tennessee claimed the doubles point over Ball State with a victory on court No. 2, Eloise Swarbrick and Zani Barnard came out victorious over Mariya Polishchuk and Emma Peeler at 7-5.

In singles, Ball State claimed the first two points with wins over Love-Star Alexis at 7-5, 6-2 and Lee Barnard at 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.

Z. Barnard equalized the score at two-all defeating Amy Kaplan in a three-set 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 finisher.

Junior Muskan Gupta earned a win in her only appearance today on singles court No. 2 with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win over Jessica Braun.

Ball State would once again tie the match at three, defeating Noelle Mauro in an extended three-set match.

Sophomore Lilly-Sophie Schmidt won the dual match for the Blue Raiders on court No. 6 at 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Schmidt moves to 7-4 on the season and has now won three-straight singles matches.

Next Up
The Blue Raiders will have four days off before heading South to take on Louisiana Tech and Grambling State at the Ruston Sports Complex in Ruston, La on Friday, Feb. 25.

Singles competition
1. Emma Peeler (BALL) def. Lee Barnard (MTW) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
2. Muskan Gupta (MTW) def. Jessica Braun (BALL) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Mariya Polishchuk (BALL) def. Love-Star Alexis (MTW) 7-5, 6-2
4. Zani Barnard (MTW) def. Amy Kaplan (BALL) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
5. Hannah Davies (BALL) def. Noelle Mauro (MTW) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2
6. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt (MTW) def. Elena Malykh (BALL) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
Singles (3,1,4,2,5,6)

Doubles competition
1. Lee Barnard/Noelle Mauro (MTW) def. Amy Kaplan/Hannah Davies (BALL) 6-4
2. Eloise Swarbrick/Zani Barnard (MTW) def. Mariya Polishchuk/Emma Peeler (BALL) 7-5
3. Love-Star Alexis/Lilly-Sophie Schmidt (MTW) vs. Jessica Braun/Livia Lukacs (BALL) 6-5, unfinished
Doubles (1,2)

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