MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University's women's tennis team shut out Middle Tennessee State, 9-0, Wednesday.
The NCAA Division II No. 3-ranked Buccaneers (14-0) secured their second win over a Division I opponent this year, dropping the Blue Raiders' record to 6-5.
Still battling injuries, the Buccaneers used two different combinations in doubles. Ana Pain and Kimmy Twelker combined for an 8-6 win over Tiffany William and Jesse Grace at No. 1. Linda Fritschken and Blanka Szavay, paired together for the third time this season, beat Irina Constantinide, 8-4, at No. 2. Karina Goia and Cristina Valladares played for the first time together, beating Sarah Sediri and Flavia Nagayama, 8-5, at No. 3 doubles.
It was Valladares' first doubles match of the season.
Pain beat William, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 1 singles. It was her first win in the top flight in two opportunities this season. Both of her matches at No. 1 singles have come against Division I opponents.
Fritschken, ranked No. 31 in Division II, beat Moraes, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 2. Fritschken is 2-0 against Division I opponents this spring. Szavay beat Grace, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), at No. 3 singles to improve to 11-1. Ninth-ranked Elisabeth Abanda was a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 winner over Nagayama at No. 4. Abanda improved to 11-0.
At No. 5 singles, Valladares moved up a spot when coach Avi Kigel pulled Twelker. Valladares responded with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Constantinide to bump her record to 4-0 in dual matches. Akemi Maehama defeated Sediri, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 6. Maehama has won three in a row.
The Buccaneers will host NAIA No. 1 Auburn-Montgomery at 2 p.m. Thursday.