The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis team travels to Middle Tennessee (0-1) for a dual match with the Blue Raiders on Friday, Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m. (E.S.T.). Chattanooga (0-1) is back in action for the first time since its spring season opener at No. 10 Georgia Tech on Jan. 18.
Weather cancelled both of UTC's matches last weekend. The home dual with Lipscomb has been rescheduled to Feb. 25 at the UTC Tennis Courts at 2:30 p.m. The match at Austin Peay will be played on Feb. 21 with the start time still to be determined.
The Lady Mocs are coming off a strong fall season where they competed in the Middle Tennessee Fall Classic, the UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic and the Belmont Quad Invitational. They lost their first match of the spring at No. 10 Georgia Tech 7-0 on Jan. 18.
Head coach Jeff Clark is entering the third season of his second tour of duty with the Lady Mocs. He also guided the team from 1999-00. Clark has a pair of seniors on his roster to go with two juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen.
The Mocs return five starters to the line-up including, junior Annie Green and sophomores Charlotte Bossy, Emily Hangstefer, Shaina Singh and Brianna Wishing. Seniors back are Beata Knizat and Kate Ksiezopolski, along with junior Grace Robinette. Newcomers include freshmen Jenna Nurik and Jennifer Taylor.
Chattanooga is led by Nurik who is currently playing the No. 1 spot for the Lady Mocs. She is one of four Mocs who recorded seven wins in the fall, along Hangstefer (No. 2 ), Singh (No. 3) and Taylor (No. 5). Bossy (No. 4) and Green (No. 6) were also in the singles line-up in the opening match at Georgia Tech.
Hangstefer and Nurik have been a very formidable doubles tandem, only losing once in nine matches in the fall. They are currently 8-2 on the year and playing the top spot for the Lady Mocs.
UTC faced many of the Blue Raiders at the MTSU Fall Classic in September. Hangstefer and Nurik's only doubles loss in the fall came against MTSU's tandem of Natalie Araya and Anna Djananova. Nurik defeated Djananova (6-0, 6-1) in singles action while Hangstefer won, 6-1, 7-5, against Marietta Bigus.
Singles Probable Lineup*
1. Jenna Nurik (UTC) - Carla Nava (MTSU)
2. Emily Hangstefer (UTC) - Natalie Araya (MTSU)
3. Shaina Singh (UTC) - Anna Djananova (MTSU)
4. Charlotte Bossy (UTC) - Yuir Nomoto (MTSU)
5. Jennifer Taylor (UTC) - Marietta Bigus (MTSU)
6. Annie Green (UTC) - Taylor Coffey (MTSU)
Doubles Probable Lineup*
1. Hangstefer-Nurik (UTC) - Araya-Bigus (MYSU)
2. Singh-Grace Robinette (UTC) - Djananova-Nomoto (MTSU)
3. Green-Taylor (UTC) - Coffey-Alex Dachos (MTSU)
*Based on each team's most recent dual match
MTSU is 1-0 on the year after defeating Belmont 6-1 on Wednesday. The match is set to take place at the Nashboro Village Indoor courts.
