Feb. 4, 2001

LUBBOCK, Texas -- The University of Missouri tennis team came up short in its bid to win its first Big 12 Conference match of the year Sunday as the Tigers dropped a 4-3 decision to Texas Tech.

The Tigers had their chances but the Red Raiders rallied from a 7-5 deficit in a doubles match and down one set and 3-0 in another before capturing a singles win.

"Texas Tech had the best number three player I've ever seen," said MU head coach Blake Starkey. "And Caitlin (Thompson) played a great match, coming back from 0-5 in the first set to win.

"I know we lost the match but I feel really good about this team," continued Starkey. "If we keep playing with this type of effort, we will get our share of wins."

The Tigers have this coming week off before heading to Tulsa, Okla., to meet Oral Roberts on Feb. 16.

Texas Tech 4, Missouri 3 Singles
Barbara Schraml, Texas Tech, def. Jessica Ferguson, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
Irina Tereschenko, Texas Tech, def. Urska Juric, 6-3, 6-1
Caitlin Thompson, Missouri, def. Sonnia Orellana, 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
Beverly Dawson, Texas Tech, def. Kristina Olshanskaya, 6-3, 7-6
Cassie Drake, Missouri, def. Kendall Brooks, 6-1, 6-3
Andrea Friedman, Missouri, def. Noel Ruiz, 5-7, 6-4, 10-4

Doubles
Ferguson/Juric, Missouri, def. Alenka Ovin/Schraml, 1-2 Default
Dawson/Tereschenko, Texas Tech, def. Olshanskaya/Marina Zelenovic, 8-0
Brooks/Orellana, Texas Tech, def. Thompson/Drake, 9-8