The Blue Raiders first took the doubles point to go up 1-0 in the match. Junior Natalie Araya and freshman Taylor Coffey teamed up to defeat Amber Garza and Sofija Karalic 8-2. Senior Marlene Chemin and junior Anna Djananova won their match 8-5 over Ceara Howey and Kir Kemp.

Then Middle Tennessee went up 2-0 after Djananova defeated Howey 6-1, 6-1. UNO cut the lead to one after Kemp defeated Herrera 6-2, 6-2.

Araya won her match 6-4, 6-3 over Kozue Matsumoto putting the Blue Raiders within one point of clinching the match.

Chemin fell to Amber Garza 6-3, 6-2 and then Coffey won the match for Middle Tennessee with her 7-5, 6-1 over Karalic.

Middle Tennessee will play Denver in the second round of the tournament at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18.

Singles
1. Kir Kemp (UNO) def. Andrea Herrera (MT) 6-2, 6-2
2. Cassandra Escobar (UNO) vs. Marietta Bigus (MT) 6-3, 0-6, 5-1, unfinished
3. Natalie Araya (MT) def. Kozue Matsumoto (UNO) 6-4, 6-3
4. Taylor Coffey (MT) def. Sofija Karalic (UNO) 7-5, 6-1
5. Anna Djananova (MT) def. Ceara Howey (UNO) 6-1, 6-1
6. Amber Garza (UNO) def. Marlene Chemin (MT) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles
1. Kozue Matsumoto/Cassandra Escobar (UNO) vs. Andrea Herrera/Marietta Bigus (MT) 6-1, unfinished
2. Taylor Coffey/Natalie Araya (MT) def. Amber Garza/Sofija Karalic (UNO) 8-2
3. Anna Djananova/Marlene Chemin (MT) def. Ceara Howey/Kir Kemp (UNO) 8-5

Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 9-13
New Orleans 9-9
Sun Belt Conference Tournament First-Round Match
Order of finish: Doubles 2,3, (1 unfinished) ... Singles 5, 1, 3, 6, 4, (2 UF)
T-3:00

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