Tennis begins fall play strong

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee began the 2008 fall season with a number of wins at the UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic.

Seniors Marlene Chemin and Andrea Herrera each posted wins in the first day of fall play.

Chemin defeated Jessica Flannery of Southern Illinois 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 while Herrera won 6-0, 7-5 in her match with Lee's Kelsey Gray. Herrera also won her second match 6-1, 6-4 over tournament host UTC's Emily Hangstefer.

Juniors Natalie Araya and Anna Djananova also performed well for the Blue Raiders on Friday. Araya defeated UT-Martin's Sara Leavy 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in her first match and Lindsey Wiseman of Memphis 6-3, 6-3 in her second match of the day. Djananova defeated Claire Landry of Lipscomb 6-2, 6-1.

Middle Tennessee's three freshmen had strong showings in their debut as Blue Raiders winning two of their four matches.

Marietta Bigus defeated Lipscomb's Raphaela Jann 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in her first match of the day but fell to No. 1-seeded Viviane Marani of Jackson State 6-4, 6-3.

Alex Dachos won her match 6-3, 6-2 over Murray State's Cassidy Cunitz while Taylor Coffey lost her match with Memphis' Amanda Brown 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

In the only doubles match of the day, Bigus and Dachos defeated Mercer's Amilia Bugge and Irys Citko 8-3.

The Blue Raiders will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic. Results will be posted on www.goblueraiders.com as soon as it becomes available.

Complete Results from Friday

Singles
Marietta Bigus def. Raphaela Jann (Lipscomb) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
Viviane Marani (Jackson State) def. Marietta Bigus 6-4, 6-3
Alex Dachos def. Cassidy Cunitz (Murray State) 6-3, 6-2
Amanda Brown (Memphis) def. Taylor Coffey 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Marlene Chemin def. Jessica Flannery (Southern Illinois) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
Anna Djananova def. Claire Landry (Lipscomb) 6-2, 6-1
Natalie Araya def. Sara Leavy (UTM) 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3
Natalie Araya def. Lindsey Wiseman (Memphis) 6-3, 6-3
Andrea Herrera def. Kelsey Gray (Lee) 6-0, 7-5
Andrea Herrera def. Emily Hangstefer (UTC) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles
Marietta Bigus/Alex Dachos def. Amilia Bugge/Irys Citko (Mercer) 8-3

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.