Saturday, February 5
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
1 p.m.
UT Martin
1
at
6
Middle Tennessee
SKYHAWK TENNIS DROPS 6-1 DECISION TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE IN SATURDAY MATINEE
2/5/2022 7:30:00 PM | Tennis
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Taking part in their second outing in less than a 24-hour window, the University of Tennessee at Martin tennis squad fell victim to a 6-1 setback at the hands of Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro on Saturday afternoon, gaining their lone victory in singles competition from true freshman Lia Espinal.
Intertwined with Lipscomb in a lengthy battle the previous evening – a result that just narrowly saw the Bisons escape with a 4-3 triumph thanks to a small edge in singles series – the Skyhawks may have been bitten with the fatigue bug, taking on an MTSU roster that overwhelmingly toppled IUPUI on Friday 7-0.
The Blue Raiders captured each of the first two doubles sets over the combinations of Sina Albersmeier/Jule Streif and Aziza Aubin/Amelia Campbell, winning by the same 6-3 final deficit. That left the final two-on-two series unfinished at 5-4, with Jillian Niedzialowski and Mizuki Sakurai unable to continue versus Love-Star Alexis and Lilly-Sophie Schmidt.
Of the six singles duties, the only W for the navy and orange came courtesy of newcomer Espinal, who grabbed her second individual win in as many days and the team's third overall in singles competition this semester. A three-set barnburner that ended in an 11-9 duel, the Dominican Republic native knocked off Zani Barnard to continue what's already been an impressive start to her Skyhawk career.
Streif, Campbell, Albersmeier, Aubin, and Sakurai were unable to duplicate the rookie's efforts in the other five singles contests – all two-and-done occurrences – dropping UTM to 0-3 on the young season while improving Middle Tennessee to 4-5.
The two in-state foes previously met one another last October in the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals, although the Blue Raiders were able to quickly pick up the win when it counted on Saturday. The 6-1 final score this weekend was an identical result to 2021's road trip to Murfreesboro, where the Skyhawks have now met two Conference-USA opponents already this year, having faced off with Western Kentucky six days ago.
Another back-to-back sequence awaits head coach Caitlyn Williams' club next weekend, although the upcoming trip to UAB and Samford will take place on Saturday/Sunday instead of starting one day earlier. First serve with the Blazers in Birmingham, Alabama one week from now will begin at 12:00 noon.
Intertwined with Lipscomb in a lengthy battle the previous evening – a result that just narrowly saw the Bisons escape with a 4-3 triumph thanks to a small edge in singles series – the Skyhawks may have been bitten with the fatigue bug, taking on an MTSU roster that overwhelmingly toppled IUPUI on Friday 7-0.
The Blue Raiders captured each of the first two doubles sets over the combinations of Sina Albersmeier/Jule Streif and Aziza Aubin/Amelia Campbell, winning by the same 6-3 final deficit. That left the final two-on-two series unfinished at 5-4, with Jillian Niedzialowski and Mizuki Sakurai unable to continue versus Love-Star Alexis and Lilly-Sophie Schmidt.
Of the six singles duties, the only W for the navy and orange came courtesy of newcomer Espinal, who grabbed her second individual win in as many days and the team's third overall in singles competition this semester. A three-set barnburner that ended in an 11-9 duel, the Dominican Republic native knocked off Zani Barnard to continue what's already been an impressive start to her Skyhawk career.
Streif, Campbell, Albersmeier, Aubin, and Sakurai were unable to duplicate the rookie's efforts in the other five singles contests – all two-and-done occurrences – dropping UTM to 0-3 on the young season while improving Middle Tennessee to 4-5.
The two in-state foes previously met one another last October in the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals, although the Blue Raiders were able to quickly pick up the win when it counted on Saturday. The 6-1 final score this weekend was an identical result to 2021's road trip to Murfreesboro, where the Skyhawks have now met two Conference-USA opponents already this year, having faced off with Western Kentucky six days ago.
Another back-to-back sequence awaits head coach Caitlyn Williams' club next weekend, although the upcoming trip to UAB and Samford will take place on Saturday/Sunday instead of starting one day earlier. First serve with the Blazers in Birmingham, Alabama one week from now will begin at 12:00 noon.
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
FB: Southeast Missouri Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, September 28
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 5
Tuesday, September 23
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 4
Tuesday, September 16
FB: Southern Illinois Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, September 14