Blue Raiders play well on Saturday

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee women's tennis program performed well in the second day of play at the UT-Chattanooga Steve Baras Fall Classic.

Freshman Taylor Coffey won the first match of the day for the Blue Raiders as she defeated Kimberly Ferris of Jacksonville State 6-1, 6-1.

Later in the day, Coffey defeated Jennermieke van der Veek 6-2, 6-1.

Senior Marlene Chemin won her only match of the day 7-6, 6-0 over Lipscomb's Danielle Hansen.

The Blue Raiders then lost a couple of close matches. Senior Andrea Herrera lost to Southern Illinois' Ame Blacketer, seeded first in the bracket, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (4) while junior Natalie Araya fell 6-3, 7-6 (4) to Svetlana Pimenova of Eastern Kentucky.

Rounding out singles play for Middle Tennessee were junior Anna Djananova and freshman Alex Dachos. Djananova was defeated by Lindsey Ottosen of Murray State 6-1, 7-6 (4) while Dachos fell 6-1, 6-1 to Wofford's Sonia Anand, who was seeded fourth in the bracket.

In doubles action, Chemin teamed with Coffey to post two wins on the day. The pair first defeated UTC's Emily Hangstefer and van der Veek 8-4. Then the duo topped Vera Shkundina and Ayano Tanaka of Kennesaw State 8-1.

Djananova and Araya lost their only doubles match 8-4 to Sabrina Smeyers and Cayley Wetzig of Wofford.

Dachos and fellow freshman Marietta Bigus won their first match by default over Ernestine Koornhof and Martie Wahl of UT-Martin. Then the pair fell to Euers and Nadja Barz of Eastern Kentucky 9-8 (4).

The Blue Raiders will round out the UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic with two singles matches and one doubles match on Sunday, Sept. 21. Results will be posted on www.goblueraiders.com as soon as they become available.

Complete Results from Saturday

Singles
Taylor Coffey def. Kimberly Ferris (Jacksonville State) 6-1, 6-1
Taylor Coffey def. Jennermieke van der Veek (UTC) 6-2, 6-1
Marlene Chemin def. Danielle Hansen (Lipscomb) 7-6, 6-0
Lindsey Ottosen (Murray State) def. Anna Djananova 6-1, 7-6 (4)
Svetlana Pimenova (EKU) def. Natalie Araya 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Ame Blacketer (1) (SIU) def. Andrea Herrera 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
Sonia Anand (4) (Wofford) def. Alex Dachos 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
Marlene Chemin/Taylor Coffey def. Emily Hangstefer/ van der Veek (UTC) 8-4
Marlene Chemin/Taylor Coffey def. Vera Shkundina/Ayano Tanaka (Kennesaw State) 8-1
Sabrina Smeyers/Cayley Wetzig (Wofford) def. Anna Djananova/Natalie Araya 8-4
Dachos/Bigus def. Ernestine Koornhof/Martie Wahl (UTM) default
Euers/Nadja Barz (EKU) def. 9-8 (4) Dachos/Bigus

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