University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, April 13
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2 p.m.
University of Memphis
4
at
3
Middle Tennessee
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Women's tennis downs Middle Tennessee in regular-season finale
Apr 13, 2019 | Women's Tennis
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Memphis women's tennis fended off a late surge from in-state foe Middle Tennessee to score a 4-3 victory Saturday afternoon at Adams Tennis Complex.
With the match knotted a 3-3, sophomore Alisha Reayer turned in a three-set victory at the No. 1 position to seal the match in singles play.
The Tigers began the contest with a doubles victory and were first to finish in singles. Trailing 2-0, Middle Tennessee offered a rally with three consecutive wins, but the Tigers claimed the last two decisions to cap the regular season in the win column.
"Today was a tough match. The energy wasn't as high as we needed in doubles, but we squeaked out a win," Head Coach Hayden Perez said. "The girls were prepared for a tough match, and it always is with MTSU. Lina and Alisha maintained their composure at the end and that helped them through to victories. I'm proud of this group and looking forward to the AAC Championships next week."
The Tigers established the momentum with a thrilling doubles point victory. Despite dropping court 2, duo Reayer and Laura Bente scored a 7-5 win at the top spot to even the point. In the clinch, tandem Josephine Cao and Claire Sullivan outlasted their opponents in a tiebreak to give Memphis the early advantage.
Memphis pushed its lead to 2-0, as Bente was first off the court in singles play. The sophomore extended her singles winning streak to five matches behind a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Middle Tennessee turned the momentum with three consecutive finishes on courts 3, 5 and 6 to take a 3-2 lead in the match before Memphis responded.
Sophomore Lina Hohnhold posted a straight-set decision on court 5 to even the contest at 3-3. Her 6-2, 6-4 victory also extended a personal winning streak to five consecutive victories.
As Hohnhold finished, Reayer headed to a third set at the top of the lineup. The sophomore won a break point to go ahead 4-2 in the final frame and cruised to a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Memphis will turn its attention to The American championships, which begin Wednesday in Orlando, Fla., at the USTA National Campus. Seeding for the 12-team tournament will be announced Monday.
RESULTS
Singles
1. Alisha Reayer (MEM) def. Costanza Magazzini (MT), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
2. Laura Bente (MEM) def. Lidia Burrows (MT), 6-1, 6-2
3. Zani Barnard (MT) def. Claire Sullivan (MEM), 6-2, 6-2
4. Luisa Zirilli (MT) def. Katherine Cao (MEM), 6-4, 6-1
5. Lina Hohnhold (MEM) def. Marta Peris Herrero (MT), 6-2, 6-4
6. Lee Barnard (MT) def. Josephine Cao (MEM), 6-4, 6-2
(Order of finish: 2, 3, 4, 6, 5, 1)
Doubles
1. Reayer/Bente (MEM) def. Magazzini/Z. Barnard (MT), 7-5
2. Peris Herrero/Zirilli (MT) def. K. Cao/Davies (MEM), 6-3
3. J. Cao/Sullivan (MEM) def. Burrows/L. Barnard (MT), 7-6
(Order of finish: 2, 1, 3)
With the match knotted a 3-3, sophomore Alisha Reayer turned in a three-set victory at the No. 1 position to seal the match in singles play.
The Tigers began the contest with a doubles victory and were first to finish in singles. Trailing 2-0, Middle Tennessee offered a rally with three consecutive wins, but the Tigers claimed the last two decisions to cap the regular season in the win column.
"Today was a tough match. The energy wasn't as high as we needed in doubles, but we squeaked out a win," Head Coach Hayden Perez said. "The girls were prepared for a tough match, and it always is with MTSU. Lina and Alisha maintained their composure at the end and that helped them through to victories. I'm proud of this group and looking forward to the AAC Championships next week."
The Tigers established the momentum with a thrilling doubles point victory. Despite dropping court 2, duo Reayer and Laura Bente scored a 7-5 win at the top spot to even the point. In the clinch, tandem Josephine Cao and Claire Sullivan outlasted their opponents in a tiebreak to give Memphis the early advantage.
Memphis pushed its lead to 2-0, as Bente was first off the court in singles play. The sophomore extended her singles winning streak to five matches behind a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Middle Tennessee turned the momentum with three consecutive finishes on courts 3, 5 and 6 to take a 3-2 lead in the match before Memphis responded.
Sophomore Lina Hohnhold posted a straight-set decision on court 5 to even the contest at 3-3. Her 6-2, 6-4 victory also extended a personal winning streak to five consecutive victories.
As Hohnhold finished, Reayer headed to a third set at the top of the lineup. The sophomore won a break point to go ahead 4-2 in the final frame and cruised to a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win.
Memphis will turn its attention to The American championships, which begin Wednesday in Orlando, Fla., at the USTA National Campus. Seeding for the 12-team tournament will be announced Monday.
RESULTS
Singles
1. Alisha Reayer (MEM) def. Costanza Magazzini (MT), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
2. Laura Bente (MEM) def. Lidia Burrows (MT), 6-1, 6-2
3. Zani Barnard (MT) def. Claire Sullivan (MEM), 6-2, 6-2
4. Luisa Zirilli (MT) def. Katherine Cao (MEM), 6-4, 6-1
5. Lina Hohnhold (MEM) def. Marta Peris Herrero (MT), 6-2, 6-4
6. Lee Barnard (MT) def. Josephine Cao (MEM), 6-4, 6-2
(Order of finish: 2, 3, 4, 6, 5, 1)
Doubles
1. Reayer/Bente (MEM) def. Magazzini/Z. Barnard (MT), 7-5
2. Peris Herrero/Zirilli (MT) def. K. Cao/Davies (MEM), 6-3
3. J. Cao/Sullivan (MEM) def. Burrows/L. Barnard (MT), 7-6
(Order of finish: 2, 1, 3)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
123
746
Costanza Magazzini / 0 [MT]
564
#2 Singles Match
12
66
Lidia Burrows / 0 [MT]
12
#3 Singles Match
12
22
Zani Barnard / 0 [MT]
66
#4 Singles Match
12
41
Luisa Zirilli / 0 [MT]
66
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Marta Peris Herrero / 0 [MT]
24
#6 Singles Match
12
42
Lee Barnard / 0 [MT]
66
Order of Finish:
2,3,4,6,5,1
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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