Back to the courts Sunday for MT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee women’s tennis team will return to action at 10 a.m. Sunday when it travels to Mobile, Ala., for a meeting with South Alabama.

The Blue Raiders opened the spring dual match campaign last weekend with a 1-1 ledger, picking up a 5-2 victory at UAB Saturday. It marked the first win in the head coaching career of Shelley Godwin.

“Last weekend provided us with the opportunity to get some matches under our belts and identify some areas on which we need to work,” Godwin said. “We have spent this week working on a few of those specifics and are ready for a tough match this weekend at South Alabama.”

Two Middle Tennessee players have opened the season with 2-0 singles records, junior Lexi Brand and freshman Nayara Moraes at the No. 4 and 5 positions, respectively. Overall, five of the six players to see singles action thus far have earned at least one win.

In doubles play, the No. 3 tandem of sophomore Flavia Nagayama and junior Yuiri Nomoto is the lone pair to open 2-0. Their triumph, combined with wins at the other two slots, enabled the Blue Raiders to pick up their first doubles sweep of the year against the Blazers Saturday.

South Alabama enters the weekend with a 1-0 record after defeating Nicholls State Thursday. The Lady Jags will play host to Xavier (La.) Saturday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts before facing Middle Tennessee the next day.

The Blue Raiders trail in the all-time series with USA, 17-2, but have won each of the last two matches.

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