Middle Tennessee Earns First CUSA Win with 4-1 Victory Over New Mexico State

Tuesday, March 17

Murfreesboro, Tenn

4 p.m

Middle Tennessee

New Mexico State

3/17/2026 8:29:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Edly Termilien / MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee (5-10, 1-2 CUSA) secured a 4-1 victory over New Mexico State (4-8, 0-1 CUSA) on Tuesday afternoon at the Adams Tennis Complex, earning their first Conference USA win of the season.

With new doubles pairings, the Blue Raiders set the tone early. On court three, senior Rutuja Chaphalkar and freshman Zora Koenig dominated Dora Kurdi and Whitney Moon, 6-0. Two minutes later, sophomore Sara Conde and senior Cara Szilasi clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Nadia Nemeth and Mariella Gelbke on court one.

On court two, Zenn Lim and Lena Peyer went unfinished with Middle Tennessee leading 4-3.

Freshman Sthefany Lima extended the lead to 2-0 with a composed 6-3, 6-2 win over Emma Petton on court three. In the second set, Petton broke twice 5-2 to close the gap, but Lima sealed the deal 6-2 on the deuce point.

New Mexico State answered on court six, where Mariella Gelbke defeated Zenn Lim 6-2, 6-2 to cut the lead to 2-1.

Koenig delivered one of the day's key performances on court two. After dropping the first set 0-6, the freshman responded with a strong comeback, taking the next two sets 6-2, 6-3. In the second set, she broke away from a 2-2 tie with a four-game run. In the third, she evened the score at 3-3 before closing the match with three straight games to give Middle Tennessee a 3-1 advantage.

Peyer stepped up on court one to clinch the match. After falling 3-6 in the opening set to Whitney Moon, Peyer regained control and took the next two sets 6-1, 6-1 to secure the 4-1 team win.

Two matches went unfinished in tight third sets. On court four, Conde trailed Anna Klimova 4-6, 6-4, 3-5 at the stoppage. On court five, junior Sadbaroy Kholdarova led Nemeth 6-4, 5-7, 3-2 when play stopped.

BOX SCORE

Middle Tennessee 4, New Mexico State 1

DOUBLES
Sara Conde/Cara Szilasi (MTSU) def. Nadia Nemeth/Mariella Gelbke (NMSU) — 6-2
Zenn Lim/Lena Peyer (MTSU) vs. Mo Parkinson-Lubold/Anna Klimova (NMSU) — 4-3, unfinished
Rutuja Chaphalkar/Zora Koenig (MTSU) def. Dora Kurdi/Whitney Moon (NMSU) — 6-0

Order of Finish: 3, 1

SINGLES
Lena Peyer (MTSU) def. Whitney Moon (NMSU) — 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
Zora Koenig (MTSU) def. Mo Parkinson-Lubold (NMSU) — 0-6, 6-2, 6-3
Sthefany Lima (MTSU) def. Emma Petton (NMSU) — 6-3, 6-2
Sara Conde (MTSU) vs. Anna Klimova (NMSU) — 4-6, 6-4, 3-5, unfinished
Sadbaroy Kholdarova (MTSU) vs. Nadia Nemeth (NMSU) — 6-4, 5-7, 3-2, unfinished
Mariella Gelbke (NMSU) def. Zenn Lim (MTSU) — 6-2, 6-2

Order of Finish: 6, 3, 2, 1

UP NEXT:
Middle Tennessee hit the road to Miami and faces FIU on Friday, March 20, at 10 am CT.

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