MURFEESBORO, Tenn. -- The Belmont University Women's Tennis team stumbled in its 2018 season opener on the road on Sunday. The youthful Bruins (0-1) traveled to in-state rival Middle Tennessee State (1-0) but was held off, 7-0, in the match, despite glimpses of greatness.
BU competed hard in doubles, particularly at No. 1 with freshmen Drew Hawkins (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Erin Allen (Knoxville, Tenn.) starting strong and nearly toppling the top seed before being held off, 6-3. The match at No. 2 was en route to being an upset for the Bruins. Freshmen Maria Plaksina (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Terra Sheldon (Bowling Green, Ky.) nearly picked up an upset, battling to 5-4 in the first before the match went unfinished as the Blue Raiders took the point.
In singles action, the Bruins had their hands full from top to bottom. The longest match in singles was with freshman Sarah Brackin (College Grove, Tenn.) fighting down to the wire at No. 4. She pushed to extra points in the first set, 7-5, and rallied in the second only to fall, 6-4. Hawkins also pushed her competition to the limit at No. 2. After falling 6-0 to start, she hustled down the stretch before eventually falling, 6-3.
Belmont returns to action on Friday, January 19. The Bruins continue their season-opening road swing with a stop at in-state rival Chattanooga. Match time is set for 3 p.m. CT.
Singles competition
1. Kim Kermet (MT) def. Maria Plaksina (BU) 6-0, 6-1
2. Lee Barnard (MT) def. Drew Hawkins (BU) 6-0, 6-3
3. Lidia Burrows (MT) def. Erin Allen (BU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Zani Barnard (MT) def. Sarah Brackin (BU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Luisa Zirilli (MT) def. Terra Sheldon (BU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Marta Peris Herrero (MT) def. Nikki Christiansen (BU) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Kim Kermet/Luisa Zirilli (MT) def. Drew Hawkins/Erin Allen (BU) 6-3
2. Lidia Burrows/Costanza Magazzini (MT) vs. Terra Sheldon/Maria Plaksina (BU) 5-4, unfinished
3. M. Josefina Zehnder/Marta Peris Herrero (MT) def. Sarah Brackin/Mical Johnson (BU) 6-0
