Norfolk, Va. (April 21, 2018) – For the third-consecutive year, the FIU women's tennis team has advanced to the Conference USA Women's Tennis Championship match following a 5-0 victory over Middle Tennessee in the tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
 
With this victory, the Panthers, who are currently ranked No. 37 in the latest Oracle/ITA women's tennis national rankings, recorded their eighth shutout of the season and improved their record to 16-2.
 
FIU won the doubles portion of the match against the Blue Raiders. The duo of Maryna Veksler and Ulyana Grib, currently ranked at No. 26 in theOracle/ITA national doubles rankings defeated MTSU's Kim Kermet and Luisa Zirilli, 6-2. Nerma Caluk and Andrea Lazaro followed with a 6-2 win over Lee Barnard and Marta Peris Herrero.
 
Lazaro gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Costanza Magazzini in singles action. Lazaro, ranked at No. 9 in the latest Oracle/ITA national singles rankings, won her 25^thmatch of the season. Nerma Caluk defeated Barnard 6-1, 6-3 to give FIU a 3-0 edge. She improved her record to 14-4. Markovic clinched the match for the Panthers and won against Zirilli 6-2, 6-3. Veklser was able to complete her match and won the fifth point for the Panthers, defeating Lidia Burrows 6-1, 6-3. 
 
"We played extremely well and had high energy and intensity on all courts," FIU Head Women's Tennis Coach Katarina Petrovic. "We executed our game plan, and I hope it transfers for tomorrow's finals."
 
The Panthers will next face Rice in the C-USA Championship Finals on Sunday, April 22. First serve is set for 10 a.m.
 
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