MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee won all six singles and all three doubles matches, sweeping Tennessee Tech, 7-0, Friday at the Racquet Club of Murfreesboro in the season opener for both teams.
Tennessee Tech had just five players for the match and defaulted two positions in singles because of an injury.
In doubles, the Blue Raiders won at No. 3 by default and clinched the match with an 8-0 victory at No. 2 by sophomore Marlene Chemin and junior Ann-Kristin Siljestrom.
At No. 1, senior Hala Sufi and junior Claudia Szabo fell behind 6-3 but battled back to tie the match at six. They then forced a tiebreaker, fought off one match point and won 9-7 in the breaker to post the victory.
In singles the Blue Raiders won all four matches and picked up wins at Nos. 5 and 6 by default.
Sufi defeated Anstay, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 1, and sophomore Elvira Yusupova took care of Yartseva, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 4. Freshman Stephanie Parkison won 7-5, 6-0, at No. 3, before Siljestrom defeated Carter, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
"Stephanie was pretty nervous and didn't have a doubles match to warm up," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "She was tight, a little off, but found a way to compete and played much better in the second set.
"Ann-Kristin had a good win. She probably played their best player. She fought hard, came up with the shots when she needed them and did what she usually does and that's find a way to win," Ojeda said.
"And Elvira has probably had the biggest turnaround from last year to this year. She's given herself opportunities everyday at practice and now she's bringing it to the court in matches."
Middle Tennessee hosts UT Martin Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Racquet Club before hitting the road to face Ole Miss on February 6.
Middle Tennessee 7, Tennessee Tech 0
SINGLES
1. Hala Sufi (MT) def. Amy Anstay (TTU), 6-1, 6-2
2. Ann-Kristin Siljestrom (MT) def. Margot Carter (TTU), 6-3, 7-6 (4)
3. Stephanie Parkison (MT) def. Marina Ruiz de Guana (TTU), 7-5, 6-0
4. Elvira Yusupova (MT) def. Evgenia Yartseva (TTU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Pooja Kommireddi (MT) def. Kay Ngiam (TTU), default - injury
6. Claudia Szabo (MT) won by default
DOUBLES
1. Sufi-Szabo (MT) def. Ansteay-Carter (TTU), 8-7 (7)
2. Marlene Chemin-Siljestrom (MT) def. Ruiz de Guaba-Yartseva (TTU), 8-0
3. Parkison-Kommireddi (MT) won by default
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