RUSTON – Louisiana Tech withstood a big comeback by Middle Tennessee, getting the clinching point from Leonie Schuknecht on Court one for a 4-3 victory on a cold Friday afternoon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
With the temperature barely reaching 40 degrees, LA Tech (9-2, 1-0 C-USA) came out blazing in doubles.  Both duos, Ilana Tetruashvili/Najah Dawson and Olga Bienzobas/Alexia Romero, made quick work of their opponents to each win 6-1 over a pair of Middle Tennessee (8-7, 1-3 C-USA) won came in with a combined 9-2 record.
 
The Lady Techsters kept their foot on the gas in singles, claiming the first set across all six courts.  However, the momentum shifted as the Blue Raiders mounted a big comeback to push four of the courts to a third set.
 
LA Tech took a 2-0 lead though thanks to Bienzobas who defeated Muskan Gupta by a score of 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 2 position.  MT countered with its first come-from-behind win at the No. 4 spot by Zani Barnard.
 
Romero made it 3-1 in favor of the Lady Techsters at No. 6 with a straight-set win of her own, besting Lilly-Sophie Schmidt 7-5, 6-3 for her fifth straight victory.  The Blue Raiders responded with two more three-set wins on courts three and five to bring the deciding point down to court one between Leonie Schuknecht and Lee Barnard.
 
Tied up at 5-all in the third set, Schuknecht held serve and then broke to give LA Tech its seventh straight victory, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.  
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amanda Stone
 
"A very big win today.  We came out so hot in doubles and in the first sets on all the courts, but Middle Tennessee did not back down.  They battled back.  There were so many momentum swings, but doubles turned out to be the key again.  Olga and Alexia both played great in doubles and got us that early lead in singles that kept the pressure on.  Leonie stepped up and really delivered, battling back from a break down in the third set to clinch.  It's exciting to get our first conference win and continue our home streak."
 
NOTABLES

• LA Tech improved to 9-2 on the season, the fifth best start in program history.
• LA Tech extended its winning streak to seven, tied for the fifth longest in program history.
• LA Tech has now won eight straight home matches, which is tied for the third longest streak in program history.
• LA Tech picked up just its second ever win over Middle Tennessee and its first since 2014.They now trail the all-time series, 2-7.
• LA Tech is now 8-0 this season when winning the doubles point.They are a combined 21-9 in dual doubles this spring.
• Alexia Romero won her fifth straight singles match, improving to 7-3.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will face Arkansas State on Sunday, Feb. 27 with first serve set for 11 a.m. at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
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