Southeast Missouri (1-3) at Middle Tennessee (4-3)

Date: Friday, February 9, 2024
Time: 1 p.m., CT
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Series: MTSU leads, 6-0

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Redhawks on the Road Again
Southeast Missouri (1-3) travels to Conference USA member Middle Tennessee (4-3) for an early afternoon matchup Friday. Start time is set for 1 p.m., CT at the Adams Tennis Complex.

Series History
Friday marks the seventh meeting between Southeast Missouri and Middle Tennessee. MTSU won each of the first six meetings of the series.

First Win of the Season
The Redhawks picked up their first win of the season with a 5-2 victory over NAIA member Lindsey Wilson College Tuesday. Southeast Missouri received singles wins from the top four spots in its lineup. Daniela Hlacikova (No. 1), Trinity Calinescu (No. 2), Juliette Talieu (No. 3) and Vivian Lai (No. 4) all won in straight sets. The Redhawks also posted victories in No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to claim the doubles point.

Five Redhawks have Singles Wins
Daniela Hlacikova, Trinity Calinescu, Vivian Lai, Juliette Talieu and Lera Valeeva each have at least one singles win this season. Calinescu leads the team with a 3-1 record, while Hlacikova follows close behind with a 2-2 mark. Talieu and Lai have one victory apiece.

Calinescu Named OVC Player of the Week
Trinity Calinescu won the first Ohio Valley Conference weekly award of her career when she was named the league's Player of the Week on Feb. 6. Calinescu won the award based on her victory over Western Kentucky's Sayda Hernandez.

About Middle Tennessee 
Middle Tennessee recently beat Alabama A&M by a score of 6-1. The only point MTSU allowed came at the No. 4 singles position. The Blue Raiders also have wins over Chattanooga, Louisville and Jacksonville State this season. Lena Peyer leads MTSU with a 5-1 singles record. Four of Peyer's wins are at the No. 4 spot in the Blue Raiders lineup. Eloise Swarbrick and Sana Garakani top MTSU with a 4-2 doubles record.

Away for Awhile
The Redhawks first nine matches of the 2024 season will be played outside of Cape Girardeau. Southeast Missouri opened the year with a pair of matches in Paducah, Kentucky. The Redhawks then traveled to Bowling Green, Kentucky before making another stop in Paducah to face Lindsey Wilson College this past Tuesday. SEMO now heads to Middle Tennessee (Feb. 9) and will make a trip to Conway, Arkansas (Central Arkansas/North Texas, Feb. 17-18) and Springfield, Missouri (UL Monroe/Missouri State, Feb. 24-25). The Redhawks then host Bradley in their home-opener on Mar. 2.

Redhawks Picked to Win OVC in 2024
The Redhawks are the Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorite entering the 2024 campaign. Southeast Missouri received 35 points and five first-place votes in the overall voting. SIU Edwardsville, Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State, first-year OVC member Western Illinois, Lindenwood and Southern Indiana completed the poll. Daniela Hlacikova (No. 1), Vivian Lai (No. 4), Trinity Calinescu (No. 7) and Juliette Talieu (No. 9) are ranked among the league's top 10 players ahead of the spring.