Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Women's Tennis
Zirilli, Luisa
Luisa Zirilli
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- 615-648-5733
Luisa is in her sixth season as a graduate assistant with the program and is getting her PhD in Health and Human Performance. Zirilli has helped Coach Bailey-Duvall with Nike Tennis Camps as well as other Junior Camps. In four seasons, MTSU has been named ITA All-Academic teams every season. She played women's tennis for four years at Middle Tennessee and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science in 2019. After completing her undergrad, Head Coach Tayo Bailey-Duvall hired her on as a Graduate Assistant. She graduated with a Master's degree in 2021 in Sports Management. She resides in Murfreesboro.
In her fifth season, the Blue Raiders tallied their first Power-5 win since 2016 defeating Louisville 4-3. Luisa helped Sana Garakani and Ilaria Sposetti to earn Second Team All-CUSA Singles and Lena Peyer was tabbed to the All-Freshman team. MTSU tallied 11 wins and the Blue Raiders obtained double digit wins in back-to-back seasons since 2018-2019.
In the 2023 season, Zirilli guided the Blue Raiders with Coach Bailey-Duvall to an undefeated season at home. Luisa assisted Love-Star Alexis to earn All-CUSA Singles becoming the first Blue Raider since 2020 to be tabbed. MTSU earned 12 wins on the season which is the most since the 2017-18 season and reached the quarterfinals of the CUSA Championships.
Career Stats
• 62-53 record in singles after 4 seasons
• 51-55 record in doubles after 4 seasons
Awards
• 2017, 2018 and 2019 C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll
• 2016 ITA Scholar Athlete
2018-19 (Senior)
• Singles: 18-13 (5-6 in fall, 13-7 in spring)
• Doubles: 17-18 (6-6 in fall, 11-12 in spring)
Fall
• Finished a perfect 3-0 in singles at the Hoosier Classic
• Also went 3-1 in doubles with Costanza Magazzini at the Hoosier Classic
• Went 2-1 in singles at the FSU All-Conference Showdown
Spring
• Finished her career with 62 singles wins, placing her 11th in program history
• Led the team in dual match singles wins with a record of 13-7, playing mostly at the No. 5 and 6 spots
• Led the team in wins at No. 5 with an 7-5 mark to go with four triumphs at the No. 6 spot in the singles lineup
• Had a season-best win streak that stretched six matches from Feb. 10 to March 15
• Played with four different doubles partners, mostly with Kim Kermet at the No. 2 spot, where they were 5-6
2017-18 (Junior)
• Singles: 20-12 (9-7 in fall; 11-5 in spring)
• Doubles: 20-12 (10-4 in fall; 10-8 in spring)
Fall
• Lost in the semifinals of her Samford Fall Invitational flight after winning over an opponent from Southern Miss in the quarterfinals
• Won twice at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional in consolation action
• Gave up only two games to an opponent from No. 30 Texas A&M en route to a dominant performance at the TCU Invitational
• Closed out the fall with four wins at the Seminole All-Conference Showdown, as she claimed the finals victory in her flight
Spring
• Tied for third on the team in dual match singles wins with a record of 11-5, playing mostly at the No. 5 and 6 spots
• Led the team in wins at No. 6 with an 8-3 mark to go with three triumphs at the No. 5 spot in the singles lineup
• Had a season-best win streak that stretched six matches from March 31 to April 20
• Was one game away from winning over 12-seed UTSA in the C-USA Championship First Round and followed that up with a straight-set win over 4-seed FAU in the Quarterfinals
• Won her only doubles match paired with Maria Josefina Zehnder and competed in all other doubles contests with Kim Kermet, as all action took place at the No. 1 spot
• Kermet and Zirilli paced the team in dual match doubles wins as a pair with a 9-8 record, with marquee wins coming against North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, and North Texas in the regular season, as well as 12-seed UTSA in the C-USA Championship First Round
2016-17 (Sophomore)
• Singles: 13-19 (3-8 in fall; 10-11 in spring)
• Doubles: 11-22 (7-6 in fall; 4-16 in spring)
Fall
• Three losses came against opponents from nationally ranked teams
• First win of the fall came at the June Stewart Invitational against No. 2 Vanderbilt's Payton Robinette, 6-2, 6-0
• She followed that win up at the June Stewart Invitational by winning over No. 28 Ole Miss's Cameron Kriscunas
• Fell in the Round of 16 at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional after winning against Evansville's Chieko Yamada, 6-4, 6-1
Spring
• Tied for third on the team in dual match singles wins with a record of 10-11, starting on courts three-six for the Blue Raiders
• Won her only match at No. 6, had a 3-1 mark at the No. 5 spot, and spent most of her time on court four with a record of 6-9
• Earned a win in four of her last five matches that ended in a decision, including a three-set win over 5-seed North Texas on their home courts at the C-USA Championship First Round
• Took a set but was unable to finish at the No. 5 spot against currently-ranked No. 23 Tennessee and claimed the first set against her opponent from No. 41 FIU before falling in a match-tiebreak
• Won the last four matches she competed in that were taken to a third set
• Was 4-16 in dual match doubles action, winning her only match with Costanza Magazzini, posting a 1-4 mark with Holly Horsfall, and winning two matches with Sarah Sediri at the No. 1 spot
2015-16 (Freshman)
• Singles: 11-9 (0-0 in fall; 11-9 in spring)
• Doubles: 3-3 (0-0 in fall; 3-3 in spring)
Fall
• Did not compete
Spring
• Opened her season up with two wins in the first weekend, including a 6-3, 6-0 win over Kennesaw State's Alexandra Mercado
• Enjoyed a season-best winning streak of four matches from Feb. 4 to Feb. 14
• Took a win in three sets on the road at Louisville, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
• Won over No. 57 USF's Ana Roman Dominguez, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
• Helped the Blue Raiders complete the comeback over WKU in the first round of the Conference USA Championship with a three set victory, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Prior to MT
• Attended ITG Stelio Vitale Modica in Italy
Personal
• Parents: Giovanni and Caterina Zirilli
• Birthdate: 9/25/97
• Major: Exercise Science
In her fifth season, the Blue Raiders tallied their first Power-5 win since 2016 defeating Louisville 4-3. Luisa helped Sana Garakani and Ilaria Sposetti to earn Second Team All-CUSA Singles and Lena Peyer was tabbed to the All-Freshman team. MTSU tallied 11 wins and the Blue Raiders obtained double digit wins in back-to-back seasons since 2018-2019.
In the 2023 season, Zirilli guided the Blue Raiders with Coach Bailey-Duvall to an undefeated season at home. Luisa assisted Love-Star Alexis to earn All-CUSA Singles becoming the first Blue Raider since 2020 to be tabbed. MTSU earned 12 wins on the season which is the most since the 2017-18 season and reached the quarterfinals of the CUSA Championships.
Career Stats
• 62-53 record in singles after 4 seasons
• 51-55 record in doubles after 4 seasons
Awards
• 2017, 2018 and 2019 C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll
• 2016 ITA Scholar Athlete
2018-19 (Senior)
• Singles: 18-13 (5-6 in fall, 13-7 in spring)
• Doubles: 17-18 (6-6 in fall, 11-12 in spring)
Fall
• Finished a perfect 3-0 in singles at the Hoosier Classic
• Also went 3-1 in doubles with Costanza Magazzini at the Hoosier Classic
• Went 2-1 in singles at the FSU All-Conference Showdown
Spring
• Finished her career with 62 singles wins, placing her 11th in program history
• Led the team in dual match singles wins with a record of 13-7, playing mostly at the No. 5 and 6 spots
• Led the team in wins at No. 5 with an 7-5 mark to go with four triumphs at the No. 6 spot in the singles lineup
• Had a season-best win streak that stretched six matches from Feb. 10 to March 15
• Played with four different doubles partners, mostly with Kim Kermet at the No. 2 spot, where they were 5-6
2017-18 (Junior)
• Singles: 20-12 (9-7 in fall; 11-5 in spring)
• Doubles: 20-12 (10-4 in fall; 10-8 in spring)
Fall
• Lost in the semifinals of her Samford Fall Invitational flight after winning over an opponent from Southern Miss in the quarterfinals
• Won twice at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional in consolation action
• Gave up only two games to an opponent from No. 30 Texas A&M en route to a dominant performance at the TCU Invitational
• Closed out the fall with four wins at the Seminole All-Conference Showdown, as she claimed the finals victory in her flight
Spring
• Tied for third on the team in dual match singles wins with a record of 11-5, playing mostly at the No. 5 and 6 spots
• Led the team in wins at No. 6 with an 8-3 mark to go with three triumphs at the No. 5 spot in the singles lineup
• Had a season-best win streak that stretched six matches from March 31 to April 20
• Was one game away from winning over 12-seed UTSA in the C-USA Championship First Round and followed that up with a straight-set win over 4-seed FAU in the Quarterfinals
• Won her only doubles match paired with Maria Josefina Zehnder and competed in all other doubles contests with Kim Kermet, as all action took place at the No. 1 spot
• Kermet and Zirilli paced the team in dual match doubles wins as a pair with a 9-8 record, with marquee wins coming against North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, and North Texas in the regular season, as well as 12-seed UTSA in the C-USA Championship First Round
2016-17 (Sophomore)
• Singles: 13-19 (3-8 in fall; 10-11 in spring)
• Doubles: 11-22 (7-6 in fall; 4-16 in spring)
Fall
• Three losses came against opponents from nationally ranked teams
• First win of the fall came at the June Stewart Invitational against No. 2 Vanderbilt's Payton Robinette, 6-2, 6-0
• She followed that win up at the June Stewart Invitational by winning over No. 28 Ole Miss's Cameron Kriscunas
• Fell in the Round of 16 at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional after winning against Evansville's Chieko Yamada, 6-4, 6-1
Spring
• Tied for third on the team in dual match singles wins with a record of 10-11, starting on courts three-six for the Blue Raiders
• Won her only match at No. 6, had a 3-1 mark at the No. 5 spot, and spent most of her time on court four with a record of 6-9
• Earned a win in four of her last five matches that ended in a decision, including a three-set win over 5-seed North Texas on their home courts at the C-USA Championship First Round
• Took a set but was unable to finish at the No. 5 spot against currently-ranked No. 23 Tennessee and claimed the first set against her opponent from No. 41 FIU before falling in a match-tiebreak
• Won the last four matches she competed in that were taken to a third set
• Was 4-16 in dual match doubles action, winning her only match with Costanza Magazzini, posting a 1-4 mark with Holly Horsfall, and winning two matches with Sarah Sediri at the No. 1 spot
2015-16 (Freshman)
• Singles: 11-9 (0-0 in fall; 11-9 in spring)
• Doubles: 3-3 (0-0 in fall; 3-3 in spring)
Fall
• Did not compete
Spring
• Opened her season up with two wins in the first weekend, including a 6-3, 6-0 win over Kennesaw State's Alexandra Mercado
• Enjoyed a season-best winning streak of four matches from Feb. 4 to Feb. 14
• Took a win in three sets on the road at Louisville, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
• Won over No. 57 USF's Ana Roman Dominguez, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
• Helped the Blue Raiders complete the comeback over WKU in the first round of the Conference USA Championship with a three set victory, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Prior to MT
• Attended ITG Stelio Vitale Modica in Italy
Personal
• Parents: Giovanni and Caterina Zirilli
• Birthdate: 9/25/97
• Major: Exercise Science
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
