Blue Raiders Shut Down Blazers

The Blue Raiders swept the doubles point to begin play as freshman Shannon Hartmann and junior Pooja Kommireddi defeated Jenny Cape and Seden Soyalp 8-3. Then seniors Claudia Szabo and Ann-Kristin Siljestrom clinched the point with their 8-4 win over Giorgia Romeo and Gulsah Esen.

Rounding out doubles play were junior Marlene Chemin and sophomore Stephanie Parkison who defeated Antonia Nugent 8-6.

The Blue Raiders continued to perform well in singles as Kommireddi defeated Engin 6-2, 6-0. Then Parkison defeated Esen 6-4, 6-4 to put Middle Tennessee up 3-0 in the match.

The next two matches finished in a virtual tie as Szabo defeated Nugent 6-1, 7-5 and Chemin won her match over Cape 6-2, 6-0 as the Blue Raiders clinched the match.

Rounding out action for Middle Tennessee was Siljestrom who took the match with Strijker 6-4, 6-3. Junior Andrea Herrera trailed 6-2, 5-2 in her match with Romeo when the match was called.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Friday, April 18 when it begins the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Monroe, La.

Singles
1. A.K. Siljestrom (MT) def. Evelien Strijker (UAB) 6-4, 6-3
2. Stephanie Parkison (MT) def. Gulsah Esen (UAB) 6-4, 6-4
3. Claudia Szabo (MT) def. Anotnia Nugent (UAB) 6-1, 7-5
4. Marlene Chemin (MT) def. Jenny Cape (UAB) 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
5. Giorgia Romeo (UAB) vs. Andrea Herrera (MT) 6-2, 5-2, unfinished
6. Pooja Kommireddi (MT) def. Ceylan Engin (UAB) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles
1. Marlene Chemin/Stephanie Parkison (MT) def. Antonia Nugent/Evelien Strijker (UAB) 8-6
2. Claudia Szabo/A.K. Siljestrom (MT) def. Giorgia Romeo/Gulsah Esen (UAB) 8-4
3. Shannon Hartmann/Pooja Kommireddi (MT) def. Jenny Cape/Seden Soyalp (UAB) 8-3

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,2,3,4,1,5)

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