Short-Handed Women’s Tennis Edged by Middle Tennessee, 4-3

Sunday, March 27

Memphis, Tenn.

12:00 p.m.

University of Memphis

Middle Tennessee

Photo by: UofM Athletic Media Relations

Short-Handed Women’s Tennis Edged by Middle Tennessee, 4-3

Mar 27, 2016 | Women's Tennis

Tigers fall in final home match of the season.

By: Tammy DeGroff

MEMPHIS – The University of Memphis women's tennis team got wins at one, three and five singles, but playing with just five healthy players, was edged 4-3 by Middle Tennessee, Sunday, in the Tigers' final home match of the season.

For the second consecutive match, Memphis could dress just five players, thereby forfeiting a match at three doubles and six singles.

Middle Tennessee came back to win at one doubles to take the doubles point and build a 2-0 lead in the match.

Junior Marta Morga had Memphis' answer though, winning in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, to halve the Tiger deficit, 2-1. Kathryn Hughes came back from a 6-1 first set loss at two singles in her final home match to take a lead in the second set, but got pulled in to a tiebreaker, which she lost, for a 3-1 Blue Raider lead.

On court four, freshman Janina Berres was trying to fight off the MTSU win, and at 5-4 down, won a point to even the second set. That allowed Hanna Sohn enough time to close out her win at one singles, 6-4, 6-4, and pull Memphis to 3-2 down. But Berres couldn't hold her opponent off any longer, and Alory Pereira grabbed the second set 7-5 to seal the Blue Raider win.

Gabrielle Paul closed out the match with a 7-6, 6-4 win at five singles for the final 4-3 score.
Memphis will close out the regular season with five straight road matches before returning home to serve as the host institution for the American Athletic Conference tournament, Apr. 20-24^th, at MUS.

Memphis will travel to Texas for three matches next weekend, playing consecutive days at North Texas (Friday), conference foe SMU (Saturday) and UT Arlington (Sunday).

Middle Tennessee 4, Memphis 3
Doubles
No. 1 – Brittany Huxley/Alory def. Hanna Sohn/Janina Berres (Memphis), 6-2
No. 2 – Sarah Sediri/Darya Shulzhanok def. Kathryn Hughes/Gabrielle Paul (Memphis), 6-3
No. 3 – Middle Tennessee won by default
Singles
No. 1 – Hanna Sohn (Memphis) def. Darya Shulzhanok, 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 – Brittany Huxley def. Kathryn Hughes (Memphis), 6-1, 7-6
No. 3 – Marta Morga (Memphis) def. Luisa Zirilla, 7-5, 6-3
No. 4 – Alory Pereira def. Janina Berres (Memphis), 6-4, 7-5
No. 5 – Gabrielle Paul (Memphis) def. Costanza Magazzini, 7-6, 6-4
No. 6 – Middle Tennessee won by default