MIAMI - The Middle Tennessee women's tennis team traveled to south Florida to face its third consecutive Top 50 opponent and could not muster a win in a 5-2 defeat to No. 49 FIU Saturday in Miami. The Blue Raiders scored their two points in singles action, while also picking up one doubles victory.
"We came out making a few too many loose errors at the start of doubles and unfortunately, they are too good of a team to give any freebies to," head coach Alison Ojeda said.
Middle Tennessee (5-3) tallied a win at No. 3 doubles, as newcomers Carla Nava and Yuiri Nomoto handed Maria Spenceley and Maria Jose Vallasciani an 8-4 loss.
"Yuiri and Carla came out extremely focused and determined at the start and maintained that throughout the match. They beat a tandem which had only lost once this season."
The Blue Raiders were then able to claim two singles wins, despite a pair of others going into three sets.
Marietta Bigus defeated Magali Holt at the No. 5 position 7-6 (3), 6-4, while Taylor Coffey won at No. 6 over Vallasciani 6-2, 6-4.
Nava and Nomoto each dropped their opening sets before winning the second and forcing a decisive third to be played. Nava went the distance in the No. 2 spot against Christine Seredni before falling 6-2, 6-7 (3), 10-5.
Nomoto also battled hard in her No. 3 match against Spenceley, but the FIU (7-5) player earned a 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 victory.
"Going into singles, we talked to the girls about laying it all on the line and fighting as if this was the finals of the conference tournament. We did that. We had chances at six out of six singles spots today. Although we lost, we walked away a better team. We look forward to competing Monday."
Middle Tennessee will remain in the Sunshine State and will next travel north on I-95 to face Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla., at Noon Monday.
No. 49 FIU 5, Middle Tennessee 2
Singles
No. 1 #87 Liset Brito (FIU) def. Natalie Araya (MT) 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 Christine Seredni (FIU) def. Carla Nava (MT) 6-2, 6-7 (3), 10-5
No. 3 Maria Spenceley (FIU) def. Yuiri Nomoto (MT) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0
No. 4 Priscilla Castillo (FIU) def. Anna Djananova (MT) 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Marietta Bigus (MT) def. Magali Holt (FIU) 7-6 (3), 6-4
No. 6 Taylor Coffey (MT) def. Maria Jose Vallasciani (FIU) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 Brito/Castillo (FIU) def. Araya/Bigus (MT) 8-0
No. 2 Holt/Seredni (FIU) def. Coffey/Djananova (MT) 8-2
No. 3 Nava/Nomoto (MT) def. Spenceley/Vallasciani (FIU) 8-4
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