Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, February 23
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
1 PM
Middle Tennessee
4
vs
0
Tennessee State
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,1
#1 Singles Match
123
Mdlulwa,Warona / 0 [TSUWTN]
04UF
65UF
#2 Singles Match
123
Nikolic,Jovana / 0 [TSUWTN]
12UF
64UF
#3 Singles Match
12
Perri Howard / 0 [TSUWTN]
00
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Koleva,Daniela / 0 [TSUWTN]
01
66
#5 Singles Match
123
Natalie Walsh / 0 [TSUWTN]
24UF
61UF
#6 Singles Match
12
Claudia Murdasanu / 0 [TSUWTN]
20
66
Order of Finish:
3,6,4
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Photo by: Owen Fink/MTSU Athletic Communications
Women’s Tennis sweeps Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky in Friday doubleheader
2/23/2024 7:24:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Murfreesboro, Tenn.—With Middle Tennessee State women's tennis Head Coach Tayo Bailey-Duvall out on maternity leave, the Blue Raiders embarked on their first day with interim Head Coach John Kreis at the helm. Kreis, a successful coach at the collegiate level in the past as well as a well-respected club pro, helped the Blue Raiders get back on the right track as they earned a pair of wins against Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky on Friday by sweeping both matches 4-0.
Middle Tennessee got off to a quick start in both matches by winning the doubles point. Against Tennessee State, the duo of Rutuja Chaphalkar and Sana Garakani clinched on court two with a 6-3 win in their first time playing together this spring while Lilly-Sophie Schmidt and Ilaria Sposetti clinched with a 6-0 win on court three against Eastern Kentucky.
Lena Peyer and Eloise Swarbrick continued their impressive starts to the year in singles play, with each of them earning a pair of singles wins on the day to move themselves into a tie for the team lead in singles wins to eight.
Cara Szilasi earned the first singles win of her career, defeating TSU's Claudia Murdasanu 6-2, 6-0. Sana Garakani picked up a singles win against Eastern Kentucky's Masha Fedenko 6-3, 6-1 on court one to give the sophomore her seventh of the season just before Swarbrick clinched the match on court five.
Interim Head Coach John Kreis
On his first day at the helm as interim head coach: "Today felt really good. It's been a while since I've had a chance to coach ladies, but overall, I'm just really proud of the team and how they played today. They worked hard to prepare for today and played well today. The girls have a great mindset for continued improvement, so we're going to keep working to see how far we can get."
Player's Perspective: Freshman Lena Peyer
On her hot start to her career in singles play: "In general, in our practices the coaches really push us to our limits. I think now with John (Kries), we have an amazing coach who we really appreciate. It's been good to have him because on the court he is very calming. During a lot of my matches, I have (Assistant Coach) Scott (Kathary) on my court and I have a good connection with him. He knows how I am and what I need while I'm playing. On the court, it really helps give me confidence."
DOUBLES- Tennessee State
1. Cassidy Mataia/ Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Perri Howard/ Warona Mdlulwa (TSU) 6-2
2. Rutuja Chaphalkar/ Sana Garakani (MTSU) def. Jovana Nikolic/ Daniela Koleva (TSU) 6-3
3. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt/ Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) def. Francisca Gomez Weis/ Natalie Walsh (TSU) 6-2
Order of finish: 3,2,1
SINGLES- Tennessee State
1. Sana Garakani (MTSU) def. Warona Mdlulwa (TSU) 6-0, 5-4 unf.
2. Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) vs. Jovana Nikolic (TSU) 6-1, 4-2 unf.
3. Lena Peyer (MTSU) def. Perri Howard (TSU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Daniela Koleva (TSU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) vs. Natalie Walsh (TSU) 6-2, 0-3 unf.
6. Cara Szilasi (MTSU) vs. Claudia Murdasanu (TSU) 6-2, 6-0
Order of finish: 3, 6, 4
DOUBLES- Eastern Kentucky
1. Cassidy Mataia/ Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Masha Fedenko/ Sasha Parkhomenko (EKU) 6-0
2. Sana Garakani/ Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) vs. Marilou Cote/ Emmeline Polevoi (EKU) 4-4, unf.
3. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt/ Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) vs. Zhansaya Bakytzhan/ Izem Elif Olcer (EKU) 6-0
Order of finish: 1, 3
SINGLES- Eastern Kentucky
1. Sana Garakani (MTSU) def. Masha Fedenko (EKU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) vs. Marilou Cote (EKU) 4-6, 1-1, unf.
3. Cassidy Mataia (MTSU) vs. Emmeline Polevoi (EKU) 6-0, 5-2 unf.
4. Lena Peyer (MTSU) def. Mariia Triska (EKU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Madison Hill (EKU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Cara Szilasi (MTSU) vs. Jacey Wilson (EKU) 6-4, 3-3 unf.
Order of finish: 4, 1, 5
Next Up
The Blue Raiders welcome former Sun Belt Conference rival Troy to the Adams Tennis Complex this Sunday for a 10:00 a.m. match.
FOLLOW THE BLUE RAIDERS
Be sure to 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.
Middle Tennessee got off to a quick start in both matches by winning the doubles point. Against Tennessee State, the duo of Rutuja Chaphalkar and Sana Garakani clinched on court two with a 6-3 win in their first time playing together this spring while Lilly-Sophie Schmidt and Ilaria Sposetti clinched with a 6-0 win on court three against Eastern Kentucky.
Lena Peyer and Eloise Swarbrick continued their impressive starts to the year in singles play, with each of them earning a pair of singles wins on the day to move themselves into a tie for the team lead in singles wins to eight.
Cara Szilasi earned the first singles win of her career, defeating TSU's Claudia Murdasanu 6-2, 6-0. Sana Garakani picked up a singles win against Eastern Kentucky's Masha Fedenko 6-3, 6-1 on court one to give the sophomore her seventh of the season just before Swarbrick clinched the match on court five.
Interim Head Coach John Kreis
On his first day at the helm as interim head coach: "Today felt really good. It's been a while since I've had a chance to coach ladies, but overall, I'm just really proud of the team and how they played today. They worked hard to prepare for today and played well today. The girls have a great mindset for continued improvement, so we're going to keep working to see how far we can get."
Player's Perspective: Freshman Lena Peyer
On her hot start to her career in singles play: "In general, in our practices the coaches really push us to our limits. I think now with John (Kries), we have an amazing coach who we really appreciate. It's been good to have him because on the court he is very calming. During a lot of my matches, I have (Assistant Coach) Scott (Kathary) on my court and I have a good connection with him. He knows how I am and what I need while I'm playing. On the court, it really helps give me confidence."
DOUBLES- Tennessee State
1. Cassidy Mataia/ Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Perri Howard/ Warona Mdlulwa (TSU) 6-2
2. Rutuja Chaphalkar/ Sana Garakani (MTSU) def. Jovana Nikolic/ Daniela Koleva (TSU) 6-3
3. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt/ Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) def. Francisca Gomez Weis/ Natalie Walsh (TSU) 6-2
Order of finish: 3,2,1
SINGLES- Tennessee State
1. Sana Garakani (MTSU) def. Warona Mdlulwa (TSU) 6-0, 5-4 unf.
2. Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) vs. Jovana Nikolic (TSU) 6-1, 4-2 unf.
3. Lena Peyer (MTSU) def. Perri Howard (TSU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Daniela Koleva (TSU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) vs. Natalie Walsh (TSU) 6-2, 0-3 unf.
6. Cara Szilasi (MTSU) vs. Claudia Murdasanu (TSU) 6-2, 6-0
Order of finish: 3, 6, 4
DOUBLES- Eastern Kentucky
1. Cassidy Mataia/ Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Masha Fedenko/ Sasha Parkhomenko (EKU) 6-0
2. Sana Garakani/ Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) vs. Marilou Cote/ Emmeline Polevoi (EKU) 4-4, unf.
3. Lilly-Sophie Schmidt/ Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) vs. Zhansaya Bakytzhan/ Izem Elif Olcer (EKU) 6-0
Order of finish: 1, 3
SINGLES- Eastern Kentucky
1. Sana Garakani (MTSU) def. Masha Fedenko (EKU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU) vs. Marilou Cote (EKU) 4-6, 1-1, unf.
3. Cassidy Mataia (MTSU) vs. Emmeline Polevoi (EKU) 6-0, 5-2 unf.
4. Lena Peyer (MTSU) def. Mariia Triska (EKU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Eloise Swarbrick (MTSU) def. Madison Hill (EKU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Cara Szilasi (MTSU) vs. Jacey Wilson (EKU) 6-4, 3-3 unf.
Order of finish: 4, 1, 5
Next Up
The Blue Raiders welcome former Sun Belt Conference rival Troy to the Adams Tennis Complex this Sunday for a 10:00 a.m. match.
FOLLOW THE BLUE RAIDERS
Be sure to 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.
MTSU Tennis Pro-Am 9/6/25
Tuesday, September 09
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Spring Sports Show hosted by The Boulevard – April 14, 2025: Women’s Tennis and Men’s Tennis
Monday, April 14
MTSU Women's Tennis vs WKU Recap on 04/08/25
Thursday, April 10
