LYNCHBURG, Va. – Making history is something Louisiana Tech has done quite a bit of this spring. 
 
More history was made on Friday at the Liberty Tennis Complex when No. 3 seed LA Tech defeated No. 2 seed Middle Tennessee, 4-1, to clinch a berth into the Conference USA Championship match for the first time in program history.
 
The formula that got the Bulldogs into the semifinals was the same that propelled them into the finals – winning the doubles point plus singles wins on courts two, four, and six.  As a result, they will now face top-seeded FIU on Saturday at 9 a.m. CT for the title.
 
Just like Thursday, the LA Tech (19-8) duo of Nina Skoric and Mio Kozaki raced out to a 3-0 lead on court three.  They would keep their foot on the gas, winning 6-2 over MTSU's Cassidy Mataia and Ilaria Sposetti.
 
MTSU (17-8) would counter with a 6-2 win of its own on court two, making court one the deciding match for the coveted doubles point.  The Bulldog pairing of Ana Rodrigues and Zoie Epps were tied up at 3-all versus Lena Peyer and Eloise Swarbrick.  Epps would ultimately serve out the match, taking it 6-4 for their 10th straight win and for the first point on the board.
 
LA Tech quickly got up 2-0 thanks to the stunning play of Kozaki at the No. 4 position.  The junior has been on fire, winning her last six matches with relative ease.  She made it seven straight against the Blue Raiders, cruising to a 6-3, 6-0 win over Mataia. 
 
Then there was another clutch performance by Epps.  The sophomore captured the first set 6-3 and was challenged by her opponent Sposetti, resulting in a second set tiebreaker.  Epps stayed calm and cool and grabbed the second set, 7-6 (4), to give the 'Dogs a 3-0 advantage. 
 
MTSU battled back, collecting the first set on court six while forcing a third set on courts one and five.  Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders also snagged their first point of the match, a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win by Peyer over the Bulldogs' Maria Tsironi at the No. 3 spot. 
 
With the remaining three courts all in a third set, it was the freshman June Vigneron that pulled away.  With the third set being 2-all against Zenn Lim at No. 6, Vigneron gained separation by winning three straight games.  She would ultimately clinch the match for the second straight day, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Amy Sargeant
 
On the win …
"Words cannot describe how proud I am of this team.  Today's match came down to all the countless hours on the practice courts.  We had a ton of heart and played with a lot of grit."
 
On using the same formula to win …
"Taking the doubles point gave us the momentum going into singles.  And just like yesterday, we got up a set on four courts and got to 2-0 on the board quickly with Mio [Kozaki] doing what she does best.  She is playing the best tennis she has played all year.  Zoie Epps continues to be a force to be reckoned with, playing fearless.  Whenever things get tough, she finds a way to pull it out.  Ana [Rodrigues] got up a set and was playing some really good tennis.  June, the freshman, for the second day in a row clinches.  She is fearless.  She is a third set taker."
 
On the chance to win a conference title …
"It is the relentless hard work and passion of our team that is why we are in the championship match.  I am proud of where we are.  If we continue to take care of the details, stay humble, we will have a chance to be victorious." 
 
NOTABLES

• With the win, LA Tech now trails in the all-time series versus Middle Tennessee, 3-7.  The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings against the Blue Raiders. 
• LA Tech is now 1-1 all-time against MTSU in CUSA Tournament matches. 
• LA Tech claimed its 19th victory of the spring, the third most in program history.  It was the Bulldogs seventh straight win and their seventh over a CUSA opponent.
• LA Tech won the doubles point for the 21st time this season.  The Bulldogs improved to 19-2 when winning the doubles point.
• Zoie Epps and Ana Rodrigues teamed up for their 19th dual doubles win.  The duo has won 10 straight matches, the second longest streak in the last 15 years.
• Ana Rodrigues claimed her 54th career dual doubles win, setting a new program record.  It was also her 70th overall doubles win, becoming just the second Bulldog in program history to reach this milestone.
• Nina Skoric and Mio Kozaki teamed up for their 13th dual doubles win of the spring.  The duo has won three in a row.
• Zoie Epps won her 25th dual singles match, improving to 25-2 on the spring and 37-4 overall this season.  The sophomore has now won 14 straight, the second longest streak by a Bulldog in the last 15 years.
• Mio Kozaki won her seventh straight dual singles match, improving to 10-5 on the spring.  She has not surrendered more than three games in any of the seven matches.
• June Vigneron provided the clinching point for the fourth time this spring.  The freshman has won six straight and is now 8-2 on the season.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will go for the CUSA Tournament title on Saturday when the Bulldogs face the defending champions and No. 1 seed FIU.  First serve is set for 9 a.m. CT at the Liberty Tennis Complex on ESPN+.
 
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