Women’s Tennis Looks to Keep Win Streak Alive Saturday and Sunday

Saturday, April 6

Cincinnati, Ohio

3 PM

Xavier University

Middle Tennessee

Women’s Tennis Looks to Keep Win Streak Alive Saturday and Sunday

04.05.19 | Women's Tennis

By: Brandon Eckman, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier women's tennis is back in action on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 when the Musketeers take on Middle Tennessee State and rival Cincinnati at home. The Musketeers will look to extend their 15-match win streak and will attempt to go a perfect 9-0 at home this season. Saturday's match against the Blue Raiders is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday's match against the Bearcats will start at 3:00 p.m. as well. Both contests will take place at the Jim and Mary Brockhoff Family Tennis Facility.

THE OPPONENT: MIDDLE TENNESSEE

MTSU finished last season at 19-8, going 3-2 in Conference USA play. The Blue Raiders fell, 5-0, to the top seed FIU in the C-USA Championship semifinals after topping UTSA, 4-0, and FAU, 4-3.
In last season's meeting, Xavier fell, 4-1, late in the season. Xavier took the doubles point after Lauren Ghidotti and Sophia Abelson took the win in the No. 1 spot, and Ahmeir Kyle and Rachael Reichenbach took the win in the No. 2 spot.
MTSU is 8-10 so far this season and has won their previous two matches against ETSU and UAB last weekend.
MTSU will take on Cincinnati at 1:00 p.m. on Friday before heading to Xavier for a match with the Musketeers Saturday afternoon.
MTSU has only one roster member from the United States. The team has athletes from Italy, Spain, England, and South Africa.
MTSU is coached by Tayo Bailey-Duvall.

THE OPPONENT: CINCINNATI

UC finished 11-10 overall last season, and 2-3 in the American Athletic Conference regular season.
The Bearcats fell in their opening round match in the AAC Tournament, 4-1, to Memphis.
Last season, Xavier fell narrowly, 4-3, to the Bearcats. The Musketeers jumped out to a 2-0 lead, taking the doubles point with wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. Lauren Ghidotti's win in the No. 2 singles spot put Xavier ahead by two points before wins in the No. 5 spot and No. 1 spot tied the match 2-2. Rachael Reichenbach put XU back ahead with a win in the No. 3 spot, but UC took the final two matches for the win.
The Bearcats are 9-7 so far this season and have a 4-7 road record.
UC is led by one senior: Antonella Bramato.

LAST TIME OUT: DEPAUL

Xavier improved to 17-2 on the season on Sunday, March 31 after defeating DePaul, 6-1, at home.
Xavier began the contest with a 6-2 win in the No. 1 spot for Ahmeir Kyle and Emily Thomas. Then, in the No. 2 spot, DePaul defeated Sophia Abelson and Kaitlin Ruether, 7-5. In the No. 3 spot, Rachael Reichenbach and Hunter Roper secured the doubles point for the Musketeers in a 7-5 win.
Xavier began singles play with a 1-0 lead and quickly extended it to 2-0 following a forfeit by DePaul in the No. 6 spot. Emily Thomas gave Xavier a 3-0 lead after defeating DePaul in the No. 3 spot, 6-1, 6-1. Ahmeir Kyle then secured the Musketeers' 15th straight win with a 6-2, 7-5 victory in the No. 1 spot, giving Xavier their fourth point.
Rachael Reichenbach continued Xavier's dominating success in the No. 4 spot, defeating Maddie Yergle of DePaul, 7-6, 6-4. DePaul grabbed their only singles win of the night in the No. 5 spot, defeating Hunter Roper, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Xavier ended the match strong, however, with a hard-fought 5-7, 6-4, 10-8 victory for Sophia Abelson in the No. 2 spot.

THE MUSKETEERS

Xavier's roster is deep and balanced, featuring a number of upperclassmen, including a pair of seniors, Sophia Abelson and Zoe Manion, and a pair of juniors, Lauren Fitz-Randolph and Rachael Reichenbach.
The Musketeers also return a pair of talented sophomores who made an immediate impact during their freshman seasons, Ahmeir Kyle and Kaitlin Ruether.
Head coach Doug Matthews also added a four-person freshman class, Anna Letto, Natalie Moyer, Hunter Roper and Emily Thomas.
Xavier is 17-2 so far this season and have a 15-match winning streak dating back to Feb. 8.

FALL HIGHLIGHTS

Xavier women's tennis opened up fall play at the Greater Cincinnati Invitational held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Returnees Lauren Fitz-Randolph and Kaitlin Ruether were joined by newcomers Anna Letto and Natalie Moyer for three rounds of singles and doubles play. Xavier's women collected 11 wins, with each of its four competitors going 2-1 in singles play, plus three doubles wins.
At the Purdue Invite, Xavier women's tennis collected four flight championships, including three singles flights and the Gold Doubles Draw championships. Kaitlin Ruether posted a 7-0 mark on the weekend, winning both her singles and doubles flights.
At the ITA Ohio Valley Regional, Xavier women's tennis collected 20 singles wins, the B-Flight Championship and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the main draw. Lauren Fitz-Randolph collected five of those wins on her way to winning the B-Flight, beating competitors from IUPUI, Tennessee, Memphis and Miami in two sets each on her way to the championship match of the 64- competitor bracket.
A the UC Tennis Pam Whitehead Invitational, Xavier women's tennis came away with the top two doubles finishes and a pair of team wins in the hidden dual format. Xavier fell to host Cincinnati, and picked up team wins over Chattanooga and Illinois Chicago. Xavier went 9-2 in doubles play and 11-9 in singles play.