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“She was one of the more talented freshmen I've ever seen” — Boldyreva has big expectations for sophomore year

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Nina Davis remembers so many details about Anastasiia Boldyreva's first practice as a Lady Raider.

In the fall semester of 2021, when all the visas and other paperwork between U.S. and Russian embassies had finally been completed and Boldyreva came to Murfreesboro from Moscow, the 6-foot-6 freshman finally got a chance on the court. Davis and other MTSU coaches had seen film of course, showcasing the center's skill around the basket. But takes from the assistant coach were measured.

"We really had no expectations," Davis said. "We knew that she was 6-6, we had some film on her, so we knew that she could get up and down the court.