Blue Raiders Fall to North Texas

DENTON, Texas - Sophomore Elvira Yusupova led the Blue Raiders on Sunday as Middle Tennessee fell to conference foe North Texas 6-1.

Yusupova played in her first match of the 2008 season as she defeated Mean Green's Amy Joubert in three sets 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 in a super tie-breaker.

Middle Tennessee fell to 1-5 on the season with the loss as North Texas improved to 3-1.

To begin the match, North Texas swept the doubles point as Joubert and Madura Randanathan defeated sophomore Stephanie Parkison and freshman Shannon Hartmann 8-4.

In No. 2 doubles juniors Marlene Chemin and Andrea Herrera fell to Rachel Wilhelm and Catalina Cruz 8-3. Then junior Pooja Kommireddi and senior Ann-Kristin Siljestrom lost their match with Idalina Franca and Narine Kazarova 8-4.

In singles action, Parkison lost to Ranganathan 6-4, 6-4 in No. 1 singles while in the No. 2 position Kazarova topped Hartmann 6-0, 6-3.

Senior Claudia Szabo fell to Cruz 4-5, 5-4 before retiring and Siljestrom lost to Wilhelm 7-5, 6-2 in No. 4 singles.

Rounding out the match for Middle Tennessee was Chemin who was defeated by Franca 6-3, 6-1.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 9 when it travels to Lexington, Ky. to face Kentucky at 12 p.m.

Singles

1. Madura Ranganathan (NT) def. Stephanie Parkison (MT) 6-4, 6-4

2. Narine Kazarova (NT) def. Shannon Hartmann (MT) 6-0, 6-3

3. Catalina Cruz (NT) def. Claudia Szabo (MT) 4-6, 5-4, retired

4. Rachel Wilhelm (NT) def. A.K. Siljestrom (MT) 7-5, 6-2

5. Idalina Franca (NT) def. Marlene Chemin (MT) 6-3, 6-1

6. Elvira Yusupova (MT) def. Amy Joubert (NT) 4-6, 7-5, 10-7

Doubles

1. Madura Ranganathan/Amy Joubert (NT) def. Parkison/ Hartmann (MT) 8-4

2. Rachel Wilhelm/Catalina Cruz (NT) def. Chemin/ Herrera (MT) 8-3

3. Idalina Franca/Narine Kazarova (NT) def. Kommireddi/ Siljestrom (MT) 8-4

Match Notes:

Middle Tennessee 1-5

North Texas 3-1

Official: Stephanie Burnham

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