Opening day kind to Middle Tennessee tennis

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee women's tennis team won three singles matches and split a pair of doubles contests during opening day action Friday at the Steve Baras Fall Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Junior Alex Dachos had the most singles success for the Blue Raiders, earning a pair of wins in Flight 3 to advance to Saturday's semifinals. She began the day with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over UAB's Menanteau Moolman in the opening round before using three sets to defeat No. 3 seed Raphaela Lima of Jacksonville State 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

Dachos will now face Kennesaw State's Agatha Palider, the No. 2 seed in the flight, in Saturday's semifinals at 11 a.m.

Also winning in singles play for Middle Tennessee was sophomore Yuiri Nomoto, who continued her solid play this fall. Seeded No. 2 in Flight 1, she had a bye into the quarterfinals, where she knocked off Kennesaw State's Mackenzie Swindall 6-1, 6-0.

Nomoto will also play in the semifinals of her flight Saturday, as she is slated to face No. 3 seed Jenna Nurik of host Chattanooga at 10:30 a.m.

Junior Marietta Bigus also competed in singles, but despite being the No. 2 seed in Flight 2, dropped a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 decision to Wofford's Sarah Evans in the quarterfinals.

Bigus will now continue action in the consolation bracket at 8:30 a.m. Saturday against Kennesaw State's Morgan Carney.

Dachos and Nomoto started the day by losing a hard-fought, 9-7, contest to UAB's Giorgia Romeo and Jenny Cape in the quarterfinals of Flight 1 doubles.

The Blue Raider pair will now square off against Chattanooga's Alexa Flynn and Emily Hangstefer in the consolation bracket semifinals at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

Bigus, however, did garner a win in doubles play, picking up an 8-5 victory while paired with Chattanooga's Charlotte Bossy against Kennesaw State's Carney and Palider in the Flight 2 quarterfinals.

The mixed doubles duo advanced to Saturday's semifinals at 7:30 a.m. to battle the UAB tandem of Moolman and Caroline Faught.

The tournament is scheduled to continue Saturday and conclude Sunday at the Champions Courts in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.