CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee women's tennis improved to 3-2 with a 7-0 blanking of in-state rival UT-Chattanooga (0-4)Friday at the Manker Patten Tennis Club. The Lady Raiders opened the match by sweeping the doubles to take a 1-0 advantage in the match. Jennifer Klaschka and Ann-Kristin Siljestrom, at No. 1 doubles, improved to 4-1 on the season with an 8-2 victory over Chattanooga's Lindsey Ballard and Bonnie Adams.
"Starting off with winning the doubles point was big for the team," said Head Coach Neil Stapp, "We really struggled this afternoon in our singles matches so the win at doubles really helped us."
Three Lady Raiders went three sets in the match against Chattanooga. The only Lady Raiders to win in straight sets were Siljestrom, Claudia Szabo at No. 2 singles and senior Emily Vest at No. 5 singles.
Siljestrom, who moved up to No. 4 singles, is steadily climbing in the line-up. The true freshman played two matches at No. 6 singles before playing at No. 5 last weekend. Stapp was so impressed with her play, he moved her to the No. 4 position. Siljestrom answered the challenge, defeating Chattanooga's Emily Harpe in straight sets 6-3, 6-0. In five matches, Siljestrom hasn't dropped a set since stepping on the Middle Tennessee campus.
"Ann-Kristin is proving she is a big-time player," Stapp said. "She hasn't dropped a set and is still cruising even after moving up to No. 4 in singles."
The Lady Raiders face a big test on Sunday when the team hosts No. 58 Ole Miss. Match-time is set for noon at the Murfreesboro Racquet Club.
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