Blue Raiders Split Matches in Louisiana

Friday, February 25

Ruston, La.

11:00 a.m.

Middle Tennessee

Louisiana Tech

Photo by: @MTAthletics

2/25/2022 9:35:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Alex Morgan, MT Athletic Communications

RUSTON, La. – Middle Tennessee women's tennis (9-7, 1-3) suffers a defeat to Conference USA foe Louisiana Tech (9-2, 1-0) in heartbreaking fashion 4-3, bounces back one hour later to defeat Grambling State (0-7) in a 4-0 sweep.

The Blue Raiders fell on the wrong end of a 4-3 decision after a relentless effort on the courts. In doubles, the Bulldogs took courts No. 2 and 3 to claim the doubles point.

Junior Muskan Gupta suffered a loss against Olga Bienzobas of La Tech in two sets at 6-4, 6-2.

After dropping her first set 0-6, Senior Zani Barnard showed extreme grit by extending her match to three sets and coming up victorious at 0-6, 6-1, 6-0 to give MT their first point.

The Blue Raiders would split the next two matches, Lilly-Sophie Schmidt dropped a two-set 7-5, 6-3 match against Alexia Romero. Love-Star Alexis kept MT in contention with another resilient effort after dropping her first set, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Junior Noelle Mauro would tie the match at three with a 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2 triumph on court No. 5.

Despite the effort, Louisiana Tech would take the match by defeating Lee Barnard on the top court in the third set 5-7.

One hour later, the Blue Raiders would bounce back and defeat Grambling State 4-0. MT won at 6-1 on courts No. 1 and 2 to claim the doubles point.

Blue Raiders L. Barnard, Alexis, and Schmidt all picked up singles wins to round up the double-header for MT.

Next up
Middle Tennessee will head to Chicago on March 4-6 and take on UIC and DePaul.

Singles competition (La Tech)
1. Leonie Schuknecht (TECH) def. Lee Barnard (MT) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
2. Olga Bienzobas (TECH) def. Muskan Gupta (MT) 6-4, 6-2
3. Love-Star Alexis (MT) def. Najah Dawson (TECH) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
4. Zani Barnard (MT) def. Ilana Tetruashvili (TECH) 0-6, 6-1, 6-0
5. Noelle Mauro (MT) def. Ana Rodrigues (TECH) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2
6. Alexia Romero (TECH) def. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt (MT) 7-5, 6-3
Singles (2,4,6,3,5,1)

Doubles competition (La Tech)
1. Ana Rodrigues/Leonie Schuknecht (TECH) vs. Lee Barnard/Noelle Mauro (MT) 3-4, unfinished 2. Ilana Tetruashvili/Najah Dawson (TECH) def. Zani Barnard/Eloise Swarbrick (MT) 6-1
3. Alexia Romero/Olga Bienzobas (TECH) def. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt/Love-Star Alexis (MT) 6-1
Doubles (2,3)

Singles competition (Grambling State)
1. Lee Barnard (MTW) def. Lungile Ntuli (GRAM) 6-0, 6-1
2. Muskan Gupta (MTW) vs. Itzel Hernandez (GRAM) 6-4, 0-1, unfinished
3. Love-Star Alexis (MTW) def. Georgina Kaindoah (GRAM) 6-3, 6-2
4. Zani Barnard (MTW) vs. Takudzwa Mawisire (GRAM) 6-1, 6-6 (6-6), unfinished
5. Noelle Mauro (MTW) vs. Claire Machisa (GRAM) 6-1, 5-3, unfinished
6. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt (MTW) def. Mikaila Coleman (GRAM) 6-1, 6-0
Singles (1,6,3)

Doubles competition (Grambling State)
1. Lee Barnard/Noelle Mauro (MTW) def. Lungile Ntuli/Claire Machisa (GRAM) 6-1
2. Zani Barnard/Love-Star Alexis (MTW) def. Georgina Kaindoah/Mikaila Coleman (GRAM) 6-1
3. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt/Muskan Gupta (MTW) vs. Hernandez/T. Mawisire (GRAM) 4-3, unf.
Doubles (1,2)

Follow Us
Follow @MT_WomensTennis on Twitter, @mt_womenstennis on Instagram, and Blue Raider Women's Tennis on Facebook for news and updates regarding everything Blue Raider women's tennis.