Feb. 24, 2001

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's tennis team improved to 8-2 and 2-2 in the Big 12 Conference with Saturday's 6-1 dual win over Iowa State at the Kansas City Country Club. Missouri is off to its best-ever start at 8-2. The Tigers have won their past two conference duals and three straight overall.. All of the Tigers' wins have come on the road.

"We have a team this season," said head coach Blake Starkey. "We won all of the close matches and that keeps happening week after week. We're fighting for every point and that was evident as we won four three-setters. Our freshmen led the way."

The Tigers' freshmen class of Urska Juric, Jessica Ferguson and Cassie Drake went 3-0 in singles play.

Missouri heads to Nebraska Saturday for another league match.

Singles No. 1 - Urska Juric, MU, def. Edna Vazquez, ISU, 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 - Jessica Ferguson, MU, def. Kristin Gyaki, ISU, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5
No. 3 - Kristina Olshanskaya, MU, def. Sabrina Evers, ISU, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 - Caitlin Thompson, MU, def. Tara Goedjen, ISU, 6-7 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 - Cassie Drake, MU, def. Noortje Cornelissen, ISU, 1-6, 7-6 (7-1), 10-5
No. 6 - Courtney Leese, ISU, def. Marina Zelenovic, MU, 7-5, 6-1

Doubles No. 1 - Ferguson/Juric, MU def. Cornelissen/Evers, 8-2
No. 2 - Vazquez.Leese, ISU, def. Olshanskaya/Zelenovic, 9-7
No. 3 - Thompson/Drake, MU, def. Goedgjen/Gyaki, 8-3