The MTSU women’s tennis team has kicked off their spring season with a record of 1-4, losing three consecutive matches. 

Middle Tennessee has shaken up its roster with four new players this year along with its six returners.  

As the season progresses, MTSU’s goal is to remain competitive and compete in the Conference USA tournament scheduled later in the year. 

So Far 

MTSU women’s tennis team finished a two-match weekend in Fort Myers, Florida, securing a 6-1 victory over Florida A&M on Jan. 24 and falling 7-0 against Florida Gulf Coast on Jan. 25 at the FGCU Tennis Complex to start the season 1-1. 

The Blue Raiders started their weekend strong against Florida A&M, winning all three doubles matches to take the opening point. Freshman Zora Koeing and sophomore Sara Conde led with a 6-2 win, followed by wins from junior Lena Peyer and senior Zenn Lim, in addition to freshman Sthefany Lima and senior Rutuja Chaphalkar. 

MTSU kept the pressure going into singles play, taking five of six matches to secure the early clinch. Straight-set victories from Chaphalkar, Lima, Koenig, Lim and Conde, while Florida A&M’s only point came at No. 6 singles, as Rattler Luiza Edelwein defeated senior Karen Yibirin in a third set tiebreaker. 

Middle Tennessee remained competitive against Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday, with five singles matches stretching out to three sets. While several Blue Raiders fought a tough battle, Florida Gulf Coast did not allow any points and controlled the energy throughout the matchup.  

MTSU concluded its opening home weekend with a loss against Northwestern, 7-0, on Jan. 31, and Lipscomb 4-3 on Feb. 1, at the Adams Tennis Complex. 

The Blue Raiders struggled on the top courts with Peyer and Chaphalkar dropping both of their matches against Northwestern and Lipscomb.  

“They operate well in practice with the drills and exercises but haven’t been able to carry it over to matches yet,” MTSU women’s head coach Tayo Bailey-Duvall said.  

Upcoming 

The Blue Raiders faced significant roster changes this season, bringing in four new players featuring freshmen Sthefany Lima and Nora Koenig, both who have played so far this season.  

February’s schedule will feature national and regional competition, starting home against Lipscomb on Feb. 1. MTSU will travel to face Vanderbilt on Feb. 13, and Auburn Feb. 15.  

The March schedule introduces Conference USA play starting on March 4 against Louisiana Tech University. The Blue Raiders will cap off conference play against Western Kentucky University on April 9. 

MTSU is looking to compete in the Conference USA Championship, scheduled from April 14-18. 

“Hopefully the team can put it all together that way come conference time MTSU is in a spot to compete…last year we went into the tournament in second place, and the goal is to stay in that top three,” Bailey-Duvall said. 

Players to Watch 

Lena Peyer 

Peyer is the new number one for MTSU after spending most of her sophomore year on court three, where she went 12-8 in singles and 7-12 in doubles during the spring season. The Swiss native had the second most singles victories and won her last five matches.  

Throughout her three-year career, Peyer has gone 42-32 in singles and 15-33 in doubles for 57 career wins.  

During her first year Peyer went 16-13 in singles (5-4 in fall, 11-9 in spring) and 3-9 in doubles (2-4 in fall, 1-5 in spring). Peyer was named to the CUSA All-Freshman team, winning her first five singles matches to start the spring and recorded the second-most singles wins on the team. 

Rutuja Chaphalkar 

Throughout her four-year MTSU career, Chaphalkar has a 33-35 record in singles and a 46-35 record in doubles matches for a combined 79 career wins. She currently stands at No. 59 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.

During her junior year, Chaphalker went 11-8 in singles (4-5 in fall, 7-3 in spring) and 18-9 in doubles (3-5 in fall, 16-4 in spring. Chaphalker competed in the Mid-South Fall Collegiate Tournament, going 2-1 in singles, and was named CUSA All-Conference Second Team Doubles honors. 

In her sophomore year, Chaphalkar did not compete in the fall season, but went 7-5 in singles and 7-9 in doubles during the spring. During her shortened season, she defeated four CUSA teams in singles. 

Zenn Lim 

Lim has a 24-17 record in singles and a 9-10 record in doubles for 33 total career wins.  

Last year, Lim did not compete in the fall season but went 10-7 in singles and 2-0 in doubles during the spring. Lim was awarded with the CUSA athlete of the week award after winning three straight matches against Jackson State, Troy and Georgia Southern. 

Before MTSU, Lim racked up several accolades, including gold medal singles and doubles titles at ATF U14 Nigeri Sembilan, gold medal singles and doubles titles at Tennis Malaysia Leg 1, and the No. 3 ranked in Malaysia and No. 1 ranked in her home state. 

What’s next? 

MTSU will travel to Nashville, Tennessee on Feb. 13, to match-up against Vanderbilt at 11:00p.m. CDT. 

In the previous nine meetings, Vanderbilt is undefeated against the Blue Raiders. The Commodores are led by seniors Naomi Katz, Sonya Macavei and Bridget Stammel.  

Although MTSU has mixed levels of experience, Bailey-Duvall’s longest tenured players have proven to be a source of leadership in this young squad. 

“The older players have been able to show the intensity level to the younger group that is needed at this level,” Bailey-Duvall said. 

To contact the Sports editor, email [email protected]. 

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