Will Duval | Sports Director
The FIU tennis team looks to keep their win streak alive and are taking on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
Coming into this matchup, the Panthers bolster a 7-2 season record and are in the midst of a six game win streak. In their most recent match against the Tulane Green Waves on Sunday, March 3, they dominated the competition and took a 4-1 win.
As a team, FIU claimed two wins in doubles and three in singles, as multiple players had standout performances. Sophomore Katerina Mandelikova took a 6-2 win at No. 4 singles and left the tournament undefeated.
Outside of her victory in singles, Mandelikova partnered with sophomore Oyinlomo Quadre to dominate doubles. The duo set the tone for the remainder matchup after they took an exclamatory 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles.
Sophomore Ekaterina Khairutdinova also made a significant contribution and took a 6-0 victory in the second set at No. 2 singles. Beyond her success in singles, she paired with senior Salma Loudili and took a 6-2 victory at No. 2 doubles.
Through crucial performances from the entire team, the Panthers only allowed their opponent to score one point. Displaying their depth of talent, it resulted in a 4-1 victory over Tulane and extended their win streak to six games.
Hoping to keep their momentum alive, they are hosting MTSU in their next match on March 6.
Entering this matchup, the Blue Raiders hold an 8-6 season record and are coming off a 5-2 victory over the Troy Trojans on Feb. 25. In that game, they left doubles undefeated and were able to push their win streak to three games.
Sophomore Sana Garakani had crucial performances in both doubles and singles, as she left the match undefeated. She took a 6-4 victory in the second set at No. 1 singles and partnered with sophomore Rutuja Chaphalkar for a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles.
If FIU wishes to leave this matchup victorious and extend their win streak to seven games, they have to focus on winning in doubles. As a team, they’ve shown the ability to withstand losses in singles, setting the tone in doubles is essential for a win.
Looking to keep their win streak alive, the FIU tennis team is taking on the MTSU Blue Raiders on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
The match is set to begin at 12 p.m. at the FIU Tennis Courts.
Follow Will Duval on X: @WillDuval40
About Post Author
