Blue Raider women's tennis starts fall on a strong note

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee women's tennis team won five of six doubles matches and five of seven singles contests Friday during day one action of the MT Buck Bouldin Fall Classic in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The day began at Noon with doubles action and the Blue Raiders were victorious during two of their three matches. Newcomers Carla Nava and Yuiri Nomoto defeated UALR's Nathalia Garay and Fanny Lopez-Augusto, 8-3. Alex Dachos and Taylor Coffey captured an 8-6 decision against teammate Marietta Bigus and Chattanooga's Brianna Wishing.

In the second doubles matches of the day, which started at 1 p.m., Anna Djananova and Natalie Araya handed Chattanooga's Emily Hangstefer and Jenna Nurik an 8-6 defeat. Nava and Nomoto picked up their second win of the afternoon with an 8-4 triumph over Murray State's Angela McGahee and Dina Obukhova.

Dachos and Bigus then paired for an 8-5 victory against another duo from Murray State, the Racers' Alexis Webb and Ashley Canty. Coffey teamed with Chattanooga's Charlotte Bossy for an 8-5 win against the Lady Mocs' Jennifer Taylor and Wishing.

In singles action, four of the five victories were in straight sets. Nomoto, in her first collegiate singles match, was triumphant with a 6-1, 6-0 score against UALR's Yana Kakovkina. Bigus picked up the Blue Raiders' second singles win versus their conference foes, as she defeated the Trojans' Lopez-Augusto 6-1, 6-3.

Araya and Dachos also collected straight-set victories. Araya defeated Obukhova 6-1, 6-0, while Dachos posted a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Wishing.

Nava, a transfer from Lamar, was the only Middle Tennessee player needing all three sets to dispatch of her opponent in singles action. She rallied to knock off Taylor 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-7).

The non-team scoring tournament will continue Saturday at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center. The final round of doubles is slated for 9 a.m., followed by two singles rounds at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Middle Tennessee women's tennis scores:

Doubles - Noon
Carla Nava/Yuiri Nomoto (MT) def. Nathalia Garay/Fanny Lopez-Augusto (UALR) 8-3
Alex Dachos/Taylor Coffey (MT) def. Marietta Bigus (MT)/Brianna Wishing (UTC) 8-6
Anne Weijenborg/Yana Kakovkina (UALR) def. Anna Djananova/Natalie Araya (MT) 9-8 (5)

Doubles - 1 p.m.
Djananova/Araya (MT) def. Emily Hangstefer/Jenna Nurik (UTC) 8-6
Nava/Nomoto (MT) def. Angela McGahee/Dina Obukhova (MSU) 8-4
Dachos/Bigus (MT) def. Alexis Webb/Ashley Canty (MSU) 8-5
Coffey (MT)/Charlotte Bossy (UTC) def. Jennifer Taylor/Wishing (UTC) 8-5

Singles - 4 p.m.
Yuiri Nomoto (MT) def. Yana Kakovkina (UALR) 6-1, 6-0
Marietta Bigus (MT) def. Fanny Lopez-Augusto (UALR) 6-1, 6-3
Natalie Araya (MT) def. Dina Obukhova (MSU) 6-1, 6-0
Carla Nava (MT) def. Jennifer Taylor (UTC) 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-7)
Alex Dachos (MT) def. Brianna Wishing (UTC) 6-1, 6-1
Anne Weijenborg (UALR) def. Anna Djananova (MT) 6-1, 6-3
Nathalia Garay (UALR) def. Taylor Coffey (MT) 6-4, 7-6 (4)

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