Blue Raider win streak snapped on the road Friday

MONROE, La. – Middle Tennessee women’s tennis saw its eight-match win streak come to an end on a marathon Friday afternoon, as the Blue Raiders lost 5-2 to ULM in Monroe, La. It is the first setback for Middle Tennessee since it lost to No. 18 Vanderbilt Feb. 26.

The Blue Raiders earned the doubles point for the sixth time in the last eight matches but managed just one singles victory as the Warhawks pulled out five triumphs, including two three-set decisions.

Middle Tennessee (13-5) clinched the early advantage by winning at the top-two spots. Junior Lexi Brand and freshman Nayara Moraes fought to a tiebreaker before dispatching Sophie Rufyikiri and Silvia Turnova, 9-8 (7) at the No. 1 position.

Senior Marietta Bigus and junior Yuiri Nomoto then knocked off Medy Blankvoort and Monica Winkel, 8-6, at the No. 2 slot.

In singles action, ULM (13-2) roared back and Blankvoort remained unbeaten this spring. However, the Blue Raiders’ sophomore Flavia Nagayama, the current Sun Belt Player of the Week, registered the team’s lone win with her 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 triumph over Turnova during the No. 3 meeting.

Moraes and Bigus each battled to three sets for Middle Tennessee in their respective contests at the No. 4 and 5 positions.

The Blue Raiders will look to rebound as they travel to Troy, Ala., next weekend to close the regular season. The two-match trip will open with a 2:30 p.m. Friday meeting with the host Troy Trojans before MT concludes the regular season with a Noon Saturday neutral-site tilt with No. 67 North Texas.

ULM 5, Middle Tennessee 2

Singles
No. 1 Sophie Rufyikiri (ULM) def. Yuiri Nomoto (MT) 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Medy Blankvoort (ULM) def. Lexi Brand (MT) 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 Flavia Nagayama (MT) def. Silvia Turnova (ULM) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
No. 4 Ema Turudija (ULM) def. Nayara Moraes (MT) 6-4, 6-7, 12-10
No. 5 Monica Winkel (ULM) def. Marietta Bigus (MT) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
No. 6 Vivian Polak (ULM) def. Taylor Coffey (MT) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles
No. 1 Brand/Moraes (MT) def. Rufyikiri/Turnova (ULM) 9-8 (7)
No. 2 Bigus/Nomoto (MT) def. Blankvoort/Winkel (ULM) 8-6
No. 3 Polak/Turudija (ULM) def. Alex Dachos/Nagayama (MT) 8-4

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