SKYHAWKS LEAVE MISSOURI STATE SCORELESS FOR FIRST WIN OF 2022

Friday, March 4

Martin, Tenn.

4 p.m.

UT Martin

Missouri State

SKYHAWKS LEAVE MISSOURI STATE SCORELESS FOR FIRST WIN OF 2022

3/4/2022 10:08:00 PM | Tennis

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Seizing a pair of doubles victories for the third consecutive trip on the court, the University of Tennessee at Martin tennis squad powered through their first home date on the 2022 schedule with a one-sided W over Missouri State at Skyhawk Tennis Complex Friday evening.

Leaving no doubt as to the outcome thanks to tag-team triumphs from Jule Streif/Sina Albersmeier and Mizuki Sakurai/Jillian Niedzialowski – along with three more singles wins courtesy of Albersmeier, Niedizialowski, and Aziza Aubin – UTM and head coach Caitlyn Williams firmly grasped their first overall win of the season after numerous close calls, the program's first non-conference nod since February 2020.

Once the Skyhawks had already captured the doubles point on Friday – a feat also achieved versus Saint Louis and Chicago State last weekend on the road – Aubin was able to keep the navy and orange ball rolling by besting Kate Miley 7-5 and 6-3 for the junior's third one-on-one victory in a row. Albersmeier then followed that up with a similar-natured win over Mary Houston 6-1 and 7-5 to effectively clinch the match and the W. The first point from Niedzialowski turned into the easiest of the semester for UT Martin, who gained one win in both singles and doubles play via Missouri State forfeit.

In two-on-two competition, Streif and Albersmeier soared to their 4^th doubles victory of the season with a 6-0 shellacking of Houston and Miley. The tandem of Amelia Campbell and Aziza Aubin – who won both duos sets last weekend – was on the verge of another until Albersmeier and Streif did so first, ending that section of the match thanks to the aforementioned MSU forfeit.

Picking up their seventh and fifth individual wins respectively to polish off the blowout, Albersmeier and Aubin's convincing performances improve UTM to 1-8 on the season with three non-conference meetings remaining until OVC territory.

The Chattanooga Mocs will take their turn at facing the Skyhawks in Martin tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 in a matchup originally scheduled for Sunday, although bumped up 24 hours earlier due to a rain forecast at the tail end of the weekend.

UTM's impending in-state foe enters Saturday's bout with an even record of 5-5, albeit with four losses in their last four attempts. Following tomorrow's first serve, the Skyhawks will hit the road for two more matches against schools outside the Ohio Valley Conference, heading to UNC Asheville and College of Charleston after a two-week break.