Box Score MONROE, La. - ULM rolled through singles play to defeat Middle
Tennessee 5-2 on Senior Day Friday afternoon at Heard Stadium. The victory
extended the Warhawks' winning streak to nine matches and snapped an
eight-match winning streak for Middle Tennessee.
"We beat a very good team today," ULM head coach Terrence De Jongh
said. "After not getting the doubles point, our girls came out hungry for
singles. It was a hard-fought match with a lot of intensity."
After dropping a thrilling doubles point, the Warhawks got straight-set
victories from senior Vivian Polak at the No. 6 position, freshman Sophie
Rufykiri at the No. 1 position and sophomore Medy Blankvoort at the No. 2
position to take a 3-1 advantage. Blankvoort's victory - a 6-2, 6-4 decision
over Middle Tennessee's Lexi Brand - improved her to 15-0 on the season.
Senior Monica Winkel battled back from an early deficit to defeat
Marietta Bigus 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5 singles to give ULM a 4-1 lead and seal the
victory. Winkel is now 12-2 on the season, including 2-0 at the No. 5 position.
Flavia Nagayama picked up the Blue Raider's only victory in singles
action, a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 decision over freshman Silvia Tumova at the No. 3
singles.
The match ended with freshman Ema Turudija pulling out a 6-4, 6-7,
12-10 victory in a tiebreak over Middle Tennessee's Nayara Moraes at the No. 4
spot.
"The crowd was great for senior day," De Jongh said. "I want to thank
everyone for coming out and supporting this team and our two seniors."
ULM wraps up the regular season with a pair of Conference USA matches
against UAB (April 13) and nationally-ranked Tulane (April 15) in Birmingham,
Ala.
ULM 5, Middle Tennessee 2
Singles competition:
1. Sophie Rufyikiri (ULM) def. Yuiri Nomoto (MT) 6-2, 6-3
2. Medy Blankvoort (ULM) def. Lexi Brand (MT) 6-2, 6-4
3. Flavia Nagayama (MT) def. Silvia Tumova (ULM) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
4. Ema Turudija (ULM) def. Nayara Moraes (MT) 6-4, 6-7, 12-10
5. Monica Winkel (ULM) def. Marietta Bigus (MT) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Vivian Polak (ULM) def. Taylor Coffey (MT) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition:
1. Lexi Brand/Nayara Moraes (MT) def. Sophie Rufyikiri/Silvia Tumova
(ULM) 9-8
2. Marietta Bigus/Yuiri Nomoto (MT) def. Medy Blankvoort/Monica Winkel
(ULM) 8-6
3. Vivian Polak/Ema Turudija (ULM) def. Alex Dachos/Flavia Nagayama
(MT) 8-4
Notes:
ULM 13-2
Middle Tennessee 13-5
