Junior Katka Sevcikova is ready to take on TulsaJunior Katka Sevcikova is ready to take on Tulsa
Tennis

Tiger Tennis Takes On Tulsa

Feb. 2, 2004

Mizzou women host Tulsa Friday after sweeping Northern Iowa and Eastern Illinois Saturday. The Tigers go into the match ranked 30th in ITA rankings and hope to continue their winning streak.

Tulsa comes into the match with a 3-0 winning streak. The team is led by last week's WAC Player of the Week, Donata Majauskaite, who had impressive wins against St. Louis University and Oral Roberts University.

The Tigers start the season with solid wins under their belt. The season openers gave freshmen Yelena Olshanskaya and Erika Josbena a taste for collegiate level tennis.

"I was nervous to go out there, but I won and that is all I can ask for," said Olshanskaya who starts the season ranked 28th in Central Region Rankings. "I hope I continue to win and stay healthy."

Olshanskaya won her match against Eastern Illinois 6-0, 6-0. Josbena helped the team with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Northern Iowa and a 6-2, 6-3 win over Eastern Illinois.

"I am getting used to the competition and how the girls play," Josbena said. "I am looking forward to playing girls who are tough throughout the season."

Team leader Urska Juric got a good start on the season. She came into the match ranked 3rd in Central Region Rankings and won her singles match 6-0, 6-1 against Eastern Illinois.

Junior Katka Sevcikova begins the season with a 14th ranking in the Central Region. She won her match against Northern Iowa 6-3, 6-0. The doubles team of Sevcikova and Juric rank 30th nationally.

The Tigers have also seen a strong performance from sophomore Hana Kraftova. She won both her matches against Northern Iowa and Eastern Illinois 6-0, 6-0. Kraftova rounds out the Central Region Rankings at the 30th spot. Juniors Lucie Ruskova and Marry Barry also came through for Missouri with solid singles and doubles wins against both teams.

Coach Blake Starkey looks forward to upcoming matches.

"We are going to have to take it match by match," Starkey said. "It is by far the most grueling schedule we have ever played, but I am excited because every team we play is solid."