Nationally-ranked Blue Raiders return to courts

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The No. 75-ranked Middle Tennessee women's tennis team will play a pair of matches this weekend, including a home match Saturday against Marshall. The Blue Raiders will conclude the two-match set with a trip to Oxford, Miss., to face Mississippi Sunday.

Middle Tennessee entered the Campbell's/Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings this week after starting the season 5-0. The Blue Raiders garnered a 5-2 victory in their last outing, at UALR Sunday, when they won five out of six singles matches to rally for the win after dropping the doubles point.

Marietta Bigus and Taylor Coffey are the only MT individuals with undefeated singles marks through the first five matches. Bigus currently is 5-0, including four wins at the No. 5 position. Coffey boasts a 4-0 record, featuring three wins at the No. 6 slot.

Three other players (Natalie Araya, Carla Nava and Yuiri Nomoto) hold a 4-1 ledger in singles play.

In doubles action, the tandem of Anna Djananova and Nomoto has registered a 5-0 record-to-date. Bigus and Araya have combined for a 4-1 mark as the No. 1 pairing.

Saturday's match against Marshall will be at 1 p.m. and be played at the Nashboro Village Indoor Courts in Nashville. The Thundering Herd enter the contest with their highest ranking in school history at No. 34 and bring a 10-0 record to town.

Catherine Kellner paces Marshall with a 10-0 mark on the singles side, while Deanna Bailey is also unbeaten at 9-0 for head coach John Mercer.

Sunday's contest against SEC foe and No. 26-ranked Mississippi also will begin at 1 p.m. The Rebels bring a 4-1 record into the tilt with Kristi Boxx owning a No. 30 national ranking at the No. 1 singles position for head coach Mark Beyers' squad.

Ole Miss' top doubles duo of Boxx and Karen Nijssen also is listed high in the national rankings, at No. 18, entering Sunday's match.

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