Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
New Mexico State
Blue Raiders Open CUSA Tournament with Thrilling Comeback 4-3 Win Over New Mexico State
4/15/2026 7:52:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – 10th-seed Middle Tennessee (8-14) started Conference USA Tournament play with a win over 7th-seed New Mexico State (10-10) at the Adams Tennis Complex.
The Blue Raiders took an early lead by winning the doubles point on Courts 2 and 3. Rutuja Chaphalkar and Zora Koenig won 6-2 against Anna Klimova and Montana Parkinson-Lubold. Lena Peyer and Sze Xuan Lim secured the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Mariella Gelbke and Anna Pinaieva. On Court 1, Sara Conde and Cara Szilasi were ahead 5-3 when the match was left unfinished.
New Mexico State responded in singles with wins at the top three courts, as Whitney Moon defeated Lena Peyer 6-4, 6-4, Anna Pinaieva edged Zora Koenig 7-6, 6-3, and Parkinson-Lubold topped Sthefany Rodrigues De Lima 6-4, 6-2. With the Aggies leading 3-1 before Conde won on court four, defeating Emma Petton 6-4, 6-4. Zenn Lim sealed the overall victory for the Blue Raiders with a three-set comeback win at No. 6, defeating Mariella Gelbke 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 after dropping the second set. In the third set, Lim tied it 4-4 before clinching the next two games.
With the match tied 3-3, junior Sadbaroy Kholdarova stepped up on court five, battling through a three-set win over Anna Klimova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Kholdarova dropped the first set and allowed just three breaks in the second and four in the third set, ultimately sealing the team victory for Middle Tennessee.
UP NEXT:
MTSU will play the 2 seed FIU tomorrow, April 16, at 12 pm.
The Blue Raiders took on the Panthers in Miami earlier this season. The Blue Raiders secured the doubles point to take an early lead, but FIU would win the four courts on singles to clinch 4-1. The Blue Raiders are still looking for their first win against FIU, coming into this match 0-15 in the all-time series.
BOX SCORE
(10) MTSU 4, (7) NM State
Doubles
No. 1: Whitney Moon/Nadia Nemeth (NM) vs. Sara Conde/Cara Szilasi (MTSU) 5-3, unfinished
No. 2: Rutuja Chaphalkar/Zora Koenig (MTSU) def. Anna Klimova/Montana Parkinson-Lubold (NM) 6-2
No. 3: Lena Peyer/Sze Xuan Lim def. Mariella Gelbke/Anna Pinaieva (NM) 6-4
Singles
No. 1: Whitney Moon (NM) def. Lena Peyer (MTSU) 6-4, 6-4
No. 2: Anna Pinaieva (NM) def. Zora Koenig (MTSU) 7-6, 6-3
No. 3: Montana Parkinson-Lubold (NM) def. Sthefany Rodrigues De Lima (MTSU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 4: Sara Conde (MTSU) def. Emma Petton (NM) 6-4, 6-4
No. 5: Sadbaroy Kholdarova (MTSU) def. Anna Klimova (NM) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 6: Sze Xuan Lim (MTSU) def. Mariella Gelbke (NM) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
Match Notes:
10-seed MTSU (8-14)
7-seed NM State (10-10)
Order of finish: Doubles (2-3); Singles (2-3-1-4-6-5)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,1,4,6,5
Players Mentioned
