Blue Raiders equal 2011 win total with Saturday sweep

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee women’s tennis extended its win streak against Murray State to 20 straight with a 7-0 victory on a beautiful Saturday at the on-campus Buck Bouldin Tennis Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn., in the first of four-straight home matches.

“Today was a total team effort on such a beautiful day,” said head coach Shelley Godwin. “We came out focused from the beginning, started with a strong effort in doubles and then continued it with solid play in singles. We have a lot of confidence right now and it’s showing on the courts. I couldn’t be more proud of the work the girls have put in lately, helping us get to this point.”

The Blue Raiders opened the day with a sweep of the three doubles matches to earn the first point. Junior Lexi Brand and freshman Nayara Moraes captured an 8-2 triumph over Ashley Canty and Cassidy Cunitz at the No. 1 slot. Then, the point fell into MT’s favor with an identical win at the No. 3 slot as senior Alex Dachos and sophomore Flavia Nagayama handed the Racers’ Jordana Klein and Ashley Pierson an 8-2 setback.

The sweep was completed in the No. 2 meeting with senior Marietta Bigus and junior Yuiri Nomoto knocking off Carolyn Huerth and Carla Suga, 8-6.

Middle Tennessee (7-4) never looked back in singles action, winning all six matches in straight sets. Nomoto started the run with a 6-1, 6-2 decision over Cunitz at the No. 1 spot, followed by a 6-4, 6-0 triumph by Brand against Canty at the No. 2 position.

Needing just one more win to lock up the overall match, Nagayama tallied a 6-2, 6-0 victory against Klein in the No. 3 meeting. However, the Blue Raider momentum did not stop there and they then garnered their fifth point on a 6-4, 6-1 triumph by senior Taylor Coffey over Pierson in the No. 6 contest.

Moraes knocked off Suga 6-2, 7-5 at the No. 4 slot and the overall sweep was completed when Bigus registered a 6-3, 6-4 decision against Huerth at the No. 5 position.

Middle Tennessee, with its win over Murray State (4-5) Saturday, equaled its victory total from all of last spring.

The Blue Raiders will continue their four-match homestand at 2 p.m. Tuesday when it plays host to Northern Iowa.

Middle Tennessee 7, Murray State 0

Singles
No. 1 Yuiri Nomoto (MT) def. Cassidy Cunitz (MUR) 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 Lexi Brand (MT) def. Ashley Canty (MUR) 6-4, 6-0
No. 3 Flavia Nagayama (MT) def. Jordana Klein (MUR) 6-2, 6-0
No. 4 Nayara Moraes (MT) def. Carla Suga (MUR) 6-2, 7-5
No. 5 Marietta Bigus (MT) def. Carolyn Huerth (MUR) 6-3, 6-4
No. 6 Taylor Coffey (MT) def. Ashley Pierson (MUR) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles
No. 1 Brand/Moraes (MT) def. Canty/Cunitz (MUR) 8-2
No. 2 Bigus/Nomoto (MT) def. Huerth/Suga (MUR) 8-6
No. 3 Alex Dachos/Nagayama (MT) def. Klein/Pierson (MUR) 8-2

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