Nomoto seals comeback win over Florida Atlantic

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Middle Tennessee’s Yuiri Nomoto picked up a win at the top singles position, lifting her Blue Raiders women’s tennis team to a 4-3 victory at Florida Atlantic Saturday afternoon from Patch Reef Park in Boca Raton, Fla. The MT triumph over the Owls is the first in four meetings between the two programs.

“Today was a total team effort,” head coach Shelley Godwin said. “We lost a tight doubles point and every single player came out ready to fight in singles. I’m proud of the maturity the girls showed today. We are heading into our next match with a lot of confidence.”

Nomoto battled FAU’s Justine Humair to three sets at the No. 1 singles slot. After claiming an opening-set triumph, the Middle Tennessee (6-4) junior fell in the next before dominating in the final set in the match-clinching 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win.

Senior Marietta Bigus also needed three sets to claim her victory over the Owls’ Catalina Ene at the No. 5 position. Bigus dropping the first before pulling out the 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph.

Blue Raider newcomers, sophomore Flavia Nagayama and freshman Nayara Moraes, also earned singles wins. Nagayama knocked off Cassie Bergeson 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 3 meeting, while Moraes handed Erika Mrazkova a 6-3, 7-6 (3) setback in the No. 4 contest.

The four singles victories were necessary after Florida Atlantic (6-2) started the afternoon by claiming the doubles point. The Owls captured two of three matches, with the lone Middle Tennessee decision coming in the No. 3 outing.

Nagayama paired with senior Alex Dachos to register an 8-5 triumph over Ene and Natasha Phillips.

The Blue Raiders will remain in south Florida for their next match but will have to wait until Noon Wednesday before squaring off against FIU in Miami.

Middle Tennessee 4, Florida Atlantic 3

Singles
No. 1 Yuiri Nomoto (MT) def. Justine Humair (FAU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
No. 2 Marlene Ryan (FAU) def. Lexi Brand (MT) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 Flavia Nagayama (MT) def. Cassie Bergeson (FAU) 6-2, 6-0
No. 4 Nayara Moraes (MT) def. Erika Mrazkova (FAU) 6-3, 7-6 (3)
No. 5 Marietta Bigus (MT) def. Catalina Ene (FAU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 6 Natasha Phillips (FAU) def. Taylor Coffey (MT) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4

Doubles
No. 1 Ryan/Natalia Tomaszewicz (FAU) def. Brand/Moraes (MT) 9-8 (4)
No. 2 Taylor Briggs/Humair (FAU) def. Bigus/Nomoto (MT) 8-3
No. 3 Alex Dachos/Nagayama (MT) def. Ene/Phillips (FAU) 8-5

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