By Rickey Fuquay, Jr.//Contributing Writer
MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee’s women’s tennnis team closed out its 2015 season with a 4-1 win over South Alabama Friday afternoon at Buck Bouldin Tennis Complex.
Seniors Jesse Grace, Nayara Moraes and Tiffany William were honored before the start of the match as a part of Senior Day.
South Alabama (18-1) came into the match riding an undefeated 18-0, but the Blue Raiders (18-4) put an end to that Friday.
Doubles play went the way of the Lady Jaguars. USA’s Monica Mitta and Paula Sanchez won 8-1 over Grace and Sarah Sediri at No. 3. Moraes and Brittany Huxley evened things up at No. 2 with an 8-5 win over Mich Meszarosova and Mary Angela to even things up.
It was a rocky start at No. 1 as William and Darya Shulzhanok found themselves in a 4-2 hole against South Alabama’s Laura Valkova and Emily Newton. William and Shulzhanok rallied to tie the match at six points apiece. It wasn’t enough as Valkova and Newton hung on for an 8-6 match win to take a 1-0 lead.
The whole complexion of the match changed in the singles competition. The Blue Raiders tallied four straight set wins to come from behind and defeat South Alabama, 4-1.
Huxley hammered USA’s Meszarosova 6-2, 6-3, Grace closed out her career with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Newton.
Moraes also finished her time as a Blue Raider with a crushing 6-2, 6-0 win over Laura Matuskova, while William rounded out her career with a thrilling 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) come-from-behind win over Valkova, giving MTSU the 4-1 victory.
With the win, MTSU finished the season 18-4 overall, and 10-0 at home. MTSU ended the season winning 10 of its last 11 matches.
The Blue Raiders will now prepare themselves for the Conference USA Championship in Houston. The tournament will take place Apr. 16-19.
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