Marshall University Athletics
Herd Welcomes Liberty for Senior Day Send-Off
4/11/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - After playing its last Conference USA match of the season last week, the Marshall women's tennis team returns home for its final match in Huntington this season when it takes on Liberty Thursday at noon at the Brian David Fox Tennis Center.
A LOOK BACK: MIDDLE TENNESSEE
The Herd had its chance to win a Conference USA match for the first time this season, but squandered its opportunity in a 4-3 loss to Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders took the doubles point after the Herd blew a 5-1 lead in the deciding match, then took three straight singles matches to clinch the win. Stephanie Smith, Anna Smith and Maddie Silver closed out the match with singles wins for Marshall.
STREAKS CONTINUED
Sisters Stephanie and Anna Smith each extended their win streaks following wins over opponents from Middle Tennessee over the weekend. Stephanie Smith, the reigning Conference USA Athlete of the Week, has now won a season-best five straight matches, a streak that ties her Marshall career high, set in 2017. Anna Smith has now won a career-best eight straight matches and is 9-1 in her last 10 matches. Maddie Silver has also won consecutive matches for the first time this season following her three-set tiebreaker win against Middle Tennessee.
ONE LAST TIME
Thursday's match marks the final home match in the careers of Herd seniors Marija Bogicevic, Maddie Silver and Stephanie Smith.
Marija Bogicevic was thrust into a larger role this season after being limited to a reserve role in 2017 and made the most of her opportunity. In her final season with the Herd, Bogicevic has either tied or set career bests during the 2017-18 season in single season singles wins (seven, Spring season), single season doubles wins (nine, Spring season) and single year singles wins (10). After not playing a match above the No. 5 position in her first three years, Bogicevic has played all of her matches at either the No. 2, 3 or 4 spots and has provided a spark of energy for the Herd, regardless if she is winning or losing a match. Bogicevic has shined in the classroom as well, as she is a three-time Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member (2016-2018) and a 2015 ITA Scholar Athlete. Bogicevic has also been a part of three ITA All-Academic teams.
Maddie Silver has played in every match since arriving on campus and has been a fixture at or near the top of the Herd lineup. Silver ranks in the top 25 in Marshall history in overall wins (119, 25th), career singles wins (63, tied-21st), career doubles wins (56, tied-25th) and single season singles wins (26 in 2017, tied-20th). Silver is a two-time Second Team All-Conference USA Singles honoree (2015 and 2017) and has spent four weeks of her career in the national polls, reaching as high as No. 82 in February 2017. Silver was also regionally ranked at the end of the season twice (19th in 2015, ninth in 2017). In addition, Silver is a four-time Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member (2015-18), a two-time ITA Scholar Athlete (2016-17) and a part of three ITA All-Academic teams (2015-17).
Stephanie Smith came to Marshall after spending her first two years at Indiana and made an immediate impact in the Herd's lineup. Smith has won at least 10 singles matches in both dual match seasons she's been a part of, was a Second Team All-Conference USA Singles honoree in 2017 and was Marshall's first Conference USA Athlete of the Week in seven years (last accomplished: April 5, 2011). Smith is a two-time Conference USA Commissioner's Honor roll member (2017-18) an Academic All-Big Ten member (2016 at Indiana, her only season eligible for nomination), a two-time ITA Scholar Athlete (2015 at Indiana, 2017 at Marshall) and a part of three ITA All-Academic teams (2015 and 2016 at Indiana, 2017 at Marshall).
WE ARE #HERDFAMILY
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UP NEXT
The Herd heads south for its final two regular season matches of the 2018 campaign. Marshall will play at Winthrop Saturday and at Georgia State Sunday, with both matches slated to begin at 9 a.m.
Players Mentioned
