Moraes picks up two victories on first day of Roberta Alison Fall Classic

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Junior Nayara Moraes led the way for Middle Tennessee women's tennis with a pair of victories in day one of the 25th Annual Roberta Alison Fall Classic at the University of Alabama.

Moraes, a native of Santos, Brazil, collected two victories to advance to the finals of the pink draw on Saturday. In her first match, Moraes defeated UAB's Rachel Cohen, 7-5, 6-0 to advance.

In the semi-finals, Moraes battled and knocked out Vanderbilt's Maggie Leavell, 6-4, 6-1 to earn a berth to the title match.

Also picking up a win on Friday was Flavia Nagayama. The junior came from behind to knock off Vandy's Megan Gornet, 6-7 (0-3), 6-1, 6-4 in the purple draw. However, Auburn's Ashley Kitchens bested Nagayama, 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals.

Freshman Irina Constantinide fell in her first match to Florida State's Laurence Porry, 6-2, 6-2. However, the Romania product rebounded with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over UAB's Amy Lowther to advance to Saturday's green consolation final.

Yuiri Nomoto dropped a pair of tough matches in the yellow draw. The senior fell 6-4, 6-3 to Alabama's Emily Zabor. Later in the day, Nomoto dropped a 7-6, 6-1 contest to Kentucky's Jessica Stiles.

In doubles action, the Blue Raiders fell in two tightly contested matches. Northwestern's Anna Livadaru and Veronica Corning knocked off Lexi Brand and Moraes, 8-6, in the teal doubles draw.

MT's Nomoto and Constantinide dropped an 8-6 decision to FSU's Porry/Kristina Schleich, 8-6, in the Bronze doubles draw.

Saturday will be the final day of the tournament, weather permitting. The last leg of the tournament features two doubles rounds and the final round of singles. Results and a recap of Saturday's action will be available online at GoBlueRaiders.com.

Singles competition

YQF Emily Zabor (Alabama) def. Nomoto, Yuiri (Middle Tennessee) 6-4, 6-3

PUQF Nagayama, Flavia (Middle Tennessee) def. Megan Gornet (Vanderbilt) 6-7 (0-3), 6-1, 6-4

GQF Laurence Porry (Florida State) def. Constantinide, Irina (Middle Tennessee) 6-2, 6-2

PIQF Moraes, Nayara (Middle Tennessee) def. Rachel Cohen (Alabama-Birmingham) 7-5, 6-0

YCSF Jessica Stiles (Kentucky) def. Nomoto, Yuiri (Middle Tennessee) 7-6, 6-1

PUSF Ashley Kitchens (Auburn) def. Nagayama, Flavia (Middle Tennessee) 6-4, 6-1

GCSF Constantinide, Irina (Middle Tennessee) def. Amy Lowther (Alabama-Birmingham) 6-2, 6-4

PISF Moraes, Nayara (Middle Tennessee) def. Maggie Leavell (Vanderbilt) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition

TQF Anna Livadaru/Veronica Corning (Northwestern) def. Brand, Lexi/Moraes, Nayara (Middle Tennessee) 8-6

BQF Laurence Porry/Kristina Schleich (Florida State) def. Nomoto, Yuiri/Constantinide, Irina (Middle Tennessee) 8-6

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