DENTON, Texas - The University of New Orleans women's tennis team had their season come to an end in a 4-2 to loss to Middle Tennessee on Friday night in a Sun Belt Conference tournament first round dual.
Doubles' play started the ninth-seeded UNO (9-9) in a 1-0 hole in their match against the eighth-seeded MT (9-13).
Taylor Coffey and Natalie Araya picked up the first Blue Raiders' double victory by defeating Amber Garza and Sofija Karalic 8-2 on the No. 2 court. Anna Djananova and Marlene Chemin clinched the doubles' point with an 8-5 win at No. 3 over Ceara Howey and Kir Kemp. It was the third straight doubles' point dropped by the Privateers.
As play turned to singles', MT extended their lead to 2-0 as Djananova picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win over Howey.
Kemp put the first UNO win on the board with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 1 over Andrea Herrera. The win was the second in the last three matches for the freshman from Atlanta, Ga.
The Blue Raiders got within one match of winning the dual as Araya walked off the No. 3 court as a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kozue Matsumoto. A win by Garza at No. 6 over Chemin by a 6-3, 6-2 score would be the final UNO win on the day as Coffey closed out the match in favor of MT with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Karalic.
Cassandra Escobar did not factor into the scoring on the day, though led in both matches which were not completed. In doubles', Escobar and Matsumoto led Herrera and Marietta Bigus 6-1 on the No. 1 court while the native of Guatemala led Bigus 6-3, 0-6, 5-1 in No. 2 singles' action.
"We had several opportunities today, but they were the better team on this day," said head coach Burzis Kanga. "We have some things to think about and we'll move on from here."
The Blue Raiders will prepare for a match with top-seeded Denver on Saturday while the Privateer women, which consisted of five underclassmen in their first year back on the Lakefront since 2005, will work towards next season.
Middle Tennessee 4, New Orleans 2
Apr 17, 2009 at Denton, Texas (Waranch Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Kir Kemp (UNOW) def. Andrea Herrera (MT) 6-2, 6-2
2. Cassandra Escobar (UNOW) vs. Marietta Bigus (MT) 6-3, 0-6, 5-1, unfinished
3. Natalie Araya (MT) def. Kozue Matsumoto (UNOW) 6-4, 6-3
4. Taylor Coffey (MT) def. Sofija Karalic (UNOW) 7-5, 6-1
5. Anna Djananova (MT) def. Ceara Howey (UNOW) 6-1, 6-1
6. Amber Garza (UNOW) def. Marlene Chemin (MT) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Kozue Matsumoto/Cassandra Escobar (UNOW) vs. Andrea Herrera/Marietta Bigus (MT) 6-1, unfinished
2. Taylor Coffey/Natalie Araya (MT) def. Amber Garza/Sofija Karalic (UNOW) 8-2
3. Anna Djananova/Marlene Chemin (MT) def. Ceara Howey/Kir Kemp (UNOW) 8-5
Match Notes
Sun Belt Conference Tournament First-Round Match
Order of finish: Doubles 2,3, (1 unfinished) ... Singles 5, 1, 3, 6, 4, (2 UF)
T-3:00
