Moraes lifts Blue Raiders to road victory

MOBILE, Ala. – Blue Raider freshman Nayara Moraes battled through three sets for her individual win, but also deciding the overall match victory, as the Middle Tennessee women’s tennis team knocked off previously unbeaten South Alabama, 4-3, Sunday afternoon in Mobile, Ala.

“The match came down to our freshman and she pulled it out,” head coach Shelley Godwin said. “Overall, it was a good team effort.”

Moraes remained unbeaten at 3-0 this season, her first dual match campaign as a collegian, picking up the decisive triumph at the No. 4 position. With the overall match knotted at 3-3, the Santos, Brazil, native won the first and third sets of her meeting against Mariya Krachok 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.

Her win was one of three in singles play for the Blue Raiders, as Middle Tennessee (2-1) garnered victories at the No. 2 through 4 slots.

In the No. 2 match, fellow newcomer and sophomore transfer Flavia Nagayama earned a 6-1, 6-3 decision over the Lady Jags’ Chane Hines.

Junior Lexi Brand kept pace with Moraes with a perfect start of her own, knocking off USA’s Ramona Ghermani in the No. 3 contest 7-5, 6-2.

The Blue Raiders had begun the day by garnering two of three triumphs against South Alabama (2-1) in doubles action.

At the No. 2 slot, Moraes and junior Yuiri Nomoto topped Ghermani and Hines, 8-2.

Seeing their first action of the young campaign was the No. 3 tandem of seniors Taylor Coffey and Alex Dachos. The pair handed Mary Angela Martin and Emily Newton an 8-6 setback.

Middle Tennessee remains on the road for its next match, traveling to New Orleans to face the UNO Privateers at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Middle Tennessee 4, South Alabama 3

Singles
No. 1 Alina Volman (USA) def. Yuiri Nomoto (MT) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
No. 2 Flavia Nagayama (MT) def. Chane Hines (USA) 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 Lexi Brand (MT) def. Ramona Ghermani (USA) 7-5, 6-2
No. 4 Nayara Moraes (MT) def. Mariya Krachok (USA) 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
No. 5 Mary Angela Martin (USA) def. Marietta Bigus (MT) 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 Emily Newton (USA) def. #125 Alex Dachos (MT) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
No. 1 Newton/Volman (USA) def. Bigus/Brand (MT) 8-1
No. 2 Moraes/Nomoto (MT) def. Ghermani/Hines (USA) 8-2
No. 3 Taylor Coffey/Dachos (MT) def. Krachok/Martin (USA) 8-6

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