Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Northwestern
Middle Tennessee Falls to Northwestern
1/31/2026 2:24:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee dropped a 7-0 decision to Northwestern on Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Adams Tennis Complex.
Starting on doubles, freshman Zora Koenig and senior Zenn Lim fell to Maia Loureiro and Marelie Raath on court three, 6-1. Koenig and Lim broke Northwestern's early momentum to make it 3-1, but the Wildcats regained control to close out the match.
Junior Lena Peyer and sophomore Sara Conde were defeated 6-2 by Mika Dagan Fruchtman and Neena Feldman on court one. Peyer and Conde opened the match with an early break 1-0, but Northwestern responded with a five-game run before Middle Tennessee broke again to make it 5-2. The Wildcats closed the set to clinch the doubles point. Northwestern going up 1-0.
The doubles match on court two between senior Rutuja Chaphalkar and freshman Sthefany Lima against Erica Jessel and Margot Phanthala went unfinished. After Northwestern jumped out to a 3-0 lead, Chaphalkar and Lima battled back to make it 4-3 before play was stopped.
In singles play, the first match to finish came on court five, where Conde fell to Raath, 6-0, 6-0.
On court two, Chaphalkar dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Feldman. Chaphalkar tied the opening set at 2-2 but was unable to gain the lead as Feldman closed the set on a four-game run. In the second set, Chaphalkar broke to make it 4-1 before Feldman regained control.
Northwestern clinched the match on court four, where Koenig was defeated by Dagan Fruchtman. Koenig rallied to tie the first set at 3-3 after trailing early, but Dagan Fruchtman closed on a three-game run. Koenig took a 3-2 lead in the second set, but the Wildcats responded with three straight games to seal the win.
With the match decided, singles play continued. On court one, Peyer fell to No. 39 Margot Phanthala, 6-3, 6-2. Peyer opened the first set with an early lead and stayed competitive throughout, but Phanthala closed both sets with late runs.
Lima dropped a 6-4, 6-3 decision to Autumn Rabjohns on court three. After Rabjohns jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first set, Lima responded with four straight games before Rabjohns closed it out. Lima continued to battle in the second set, but Rabjohns held on to secure the win.
On court six, Lim was edged by Jessel in two tiebreak sets, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3). Lim held multiple leads throughout the match, including a 6-5 advantage in the opening set, but Jessel forced tiebreakers in both sets and prevailed each time.
Box Score
Result: Northwestern 7, Middle Tennessee 0
Doubles Draws
(Northwestern wins doubles point)
Fruchtman / Feldman (NU) def. Conde / Peyer (MTSU) — 6–2
Loureiro / Raath (NU) def. Koenig / Lim (MTSU) — 6–1
Jessel / Phanthala (NU) vs. Chaphalkar / Lima (MTSU) — unfinished
Order of finish 3, 1,
Singles Draws
Margot Phanthala (NU) def. Lena Peyer (MTSU) — 6–3, 6–2
Neena Feldman (NU) def. Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) — 6–2, 6–1
Autumn Rabjohns (NU) def. Sthefany Lima (MTSU) — 6–4, 6–3
Mika Fruchtman (NU) def. Zora Koenig (MTSU) — 6–3, 6–3
Marelie Raath (NU) def. Sara Conde (MTSU) — 6–0, 6–0
Erica Jessel (NU) def. Zenn Lim (MTSU) — 7–6(2), 7–6(3)
Order of finish: 5, 2, 4, 1, 3, 6
UP NEXT:
The Blue Raiders will host Lipscomb on Feb. 1st and 1 pm CT at Adams Tennis Complex.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
5,2,4,1,3,6
Players Mentioned
