April 7, 2001

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Missouri women's tennis team came up short during Saturday's Big 12 Conference match against Kansas State but the Tigers did not come away empty.

Kansas State handed Missouri a 5-2 loss but MU head coach Blake Starkey was pleased with the way his team performed against the nation's 44th-ranked squad at the MU Outdoor Tennis Complex.

One of the two wins was by freshman Cassie Drake (Stillwell, Kan.). Drake tied the Missouri school record for wins in a season as she downed KSU's Paulina Castillejos 6-2, 6-3 for her 21st win this season.

Another MU freshman came through for the other point as Jessica Ferguson (Houston, Texas) recorded a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Alena Jecminkova, the nation's 81st-ranked player and the reigning Central Region Player of the Year.

"Kansas State did what it needed to to win," said Starkey. "I know this match was much closer than a 5-2 final score indicates. We played well and know why they're the 44th-ranked team in the nation."

The Tigers, who are 12-6 overall and 2-6 in the Big 12 Conference, take on Texas A&M Sunday at 12 Noon at the MU Outdoor Tennis Complex.

Singles
Jessica Ferguson, MU, def. Alena Jecminkova, KSU, 6-4, 6-2
Petra Sedlmajerova, KSU, def. Urska Juric, MU, 6-3, 6-3
Eva Novotna, KSU, def. Caitlin Thompson, MU, 6-3, 6-1
Kathy Chuda, KSU, def. Kristina Olshanskaya, MU, 6-4, 6-4
Cassie Drake, MU, def. Paulina Castillejos, KSU, 6-2, 6-3
Hayley McIver, KSU, def. Andrea Friedman, MU, 3-6, 6-4 (10-8)

Doubles
Jecminkova/Novotna, KSU, def. Ferguson/Juric, MU, 8-3
Sedlmajerova/Chuda, KSU, def. Thompson/Drake, MU, 8-6
Castillejos/McIver, KSU, def. Olshanskaya/Marina Zelenovic, 8-4