March 7, 2001

The University of Missouri tennis team will play Southeast Missouri at 4 p.m. Saturday in a non-conference dual scheduled to be at Club Woodrail. However, if weather permits, the matches could be at the MU Outdoor Tennis Complex.

Missouri enters the dual with an 8-3 overall record while Southeast Missouri has yet to play in the 2001 spring season.

Recent Action: The Tigers dropped a 7-0 decision to Nebraska in Big 12 Conference play. The doubles team of Jessica Ferguson and Urska Juric improved to 8-1 this spring with the team's lone win. Teams need to win two of the three doubles matches to record a point.

Winning Streaks: The Tigers' success could be due to its lower half of the lineup. Missouri has posted a 25-8 mark with the numbers 4-5-6 players in the lineup. All eight losses have come during Big 12 play.

Top Marks: A pair of freshman, Cassie Drake and Urska Juric, are off to hot starts. Drake has posted a 9-2 mark this spring while Juric, Kristina Olshanskaya and Caitlin Thompson are all 8-3.

Head Coach: The Tigers are under the direction of Blake Starkey. Starkey, an 1989 Eastern Kentucky graduate, is in his fourth season at Missouri.

Next: Missouri returns to Big 12 play on March 14 against Kansas before meeting Colorado March 17. Both matches are at home.