MT women's tennis completes day one in Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. - The Middle Tennessee women's tennis team garnered nine total singles victories Friday during day one action of the UL Invitational in Lafayette, La., hosted by fellow Sun Belt member Louisiana.

Freshman Yuiri Nomoto continued her torrid start to her inaugural campaign by picking up a pair of wins in the Flight A singles. She defeated Central Arkansas' Petra Keilova 6-1, 6-2 before handing No. 2 seed Southeastern Louisiana's Audrey Chelini a setback in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Fellow newcomer Carla Nava, a transfer from Lamar, also participated in the Flight A singles bracket and captured a 7-6, 6-3 triumph over No. 3 seed Cassandra Escobar of New Orleans.

In the Flight B singles, the Blue Raiders registered five wins in six matches. Sophomore Marietta Bigus defeated New Orleans' Kristina Matic 6-1, 6-3, and host Louisiana's Milou Isreal, the top seed, 6-4, 6-4. Senior Natalie Araya also extended her winning streak by tallying victories against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Bianca Discordia, who was the No. 2 seed, 6-4, 6-3 and New Orleans' Ceara Howey 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Sophomore Taylor Coffey split her two matches in the flight, knocking off Morgan Dadot of Southeastern Louisiana in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

Senior Anna Djananova collected her first singles win of the fall by a 6-1, 6-1 score over Alexandra Lindhal of Southeastern Louisiana.

In Flight A doubles action, Djananova and Araya handed Northwestern State's Dragana Colic and Adna Curukovic a 9-7 loss.

Tournament competition will continue Saturday and Sunday at the Cajun Courts. The Blue Raider pairing of Nomoto and Nava received a bye in the Flight B doubles and are set for semifinal action Saturday.

Middle Tennessee women's tennis results:

Flight A singles:
Yuiri Nomoto (MT) def. Petra Keilova (Central Arkansas) 6-1, 6-2
Yuiri Nomoto (MT) def. Audrey Chelini (Southeastern Louisiana) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Carla Nava (MT) def. Cassandra Escobar (New Orleans) 7-6, 6-2
Doris Kuselji (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) def. Carla Nava (MT) 6-1, 6-4

Flight B singles:
Marietta Bigus (MT) def. Kristina Matic (New Orleans) 6-3, 6-1
Marietta Bigus (MT) def. Milou Isreal (Louisiana) 6-4, 6-4
Natalie Araya (MT) def. Bianca Discordia (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) 6-3, 6-3
Natalie Araya (MT) def. Ceara Howey (New Orleans) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Taylor Coffey (MT) def. Morgan Dadot (Southeastern Louisiana) 6-4, 6-2
Audrey Wooland (Louisiana) def. Taylor Coffey (MT) 6-2, 6-3

Flight C singles:
Anna Djananova (MT) def. Alexandra Lindhal (Southeastern Louisiana) 6-1, 6-1
Annika Hanke (Southeastern Louisiana) def. Alex Dachos (MT) 6-2, 6-2

Flight A doubles:
Natalie Araya/Anna Djananova (MT) def. Dragana Colic/Adna Curukovic (Northwestern State) 9-7
Catalina Cruz/Shannon Mackenzie (North Texas) def. Natalie Araya/Anna Djananova (MT) 8-6

Flight B doubles:
Andrea Nederosova/Martina Rubesova (Northwestern State) def. Marietta Bigus/Alex Dachos (MT) 8-4

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