The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Middle Tennessee
Blazers Close Regular Season With Win Over Middle Tennessee
4/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 10, 2009
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The UAB women's tennis team battled Middle Tennessee and the weather Friday and pulled through for a 4-2 win in its final regular-season match.
After only a few games, Friday's contest was delayed by rain and tornados in the Murfreesboro area. When play resumed, UAB won four singles matches to earn the victory and snap a three-match losing streak. Doubles matches were not played.
"This is the best I have seen us play in a long time," UAB head coach Krissy Hall said. "It's good for us to end the regular season on a positive note, so we can take some momentum into the conference tournament."
Paula Alvarez and Giorgia Romeo won for UAB at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions by identical 6-3, 6-3 scores. At the No.4 spot, Jenny Cape won in three sets, overcoming a first-set loss and a 3-0 deficit in the third for a 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 win.
The match that clinched the UAB win was the No. 3 singles contest, where Brittany DeFelice defeated Middle Tennessee's Marietta Bigus 7-6, 6-3.
The only setback for the Blazers in a contested match was at the No. 5 position, where Ceylan Engin fell in straight sets to Anna Djananova. Middle Tennessee won the No. 6 singles match by default as UAB, still playing without top singles player Evelien Strijker, had only five available players.
UAB improved to 6-8 for the spring, while Middle Tennessee dropped to 8-12. The Blazers have completed their regular season and will return to action Thursday, April 16 in Houston at the Conference USA Championships, hosted by Rice.
Players Mentioned
