Feb. 22, 2004

The Tigers dropped their first match of the season, barely falling to Colorado 4-3 today in Boulder. The match was the Tigers third against a nationally ranked squad, with the Tigers winning the other two. After dropping the doubles point, the Tigers needed to take home four singles wins. The Tigers won three singles matches, and came up just short of winning the fourth. In their singles matches, Katka Sevcikova and Erika Josbena each forced third sets, but were unable to pull away, which allowed Colorado the four points necessary to secure the 4-3 home win. Had the Tigers won either of the two three setters, the Tigers would have won. Urska Juric, Hana Kraftova, and Mary Barry all delivered big wins. The Tigers now stand at 5-1.

"We put ourselves in position to win the team match today, and that is always our goal," said Blake Starkey. "We got off to a slow start with the doubles, and we know we can play better. I am proud of how we bounced back and competed in the singles, however. We came up three games shy in a really tough place to play, and Colorado did outplay us in two third sets, so credit to them. If we continue to compete like this, and continue to put ourselves in position, we'll get our share."

The #40 Tigers will be on the road again next weekend as they will take on #16 Texas and #19 Texas A&M in Austin and College Station respectively. The Tigers beat both Texas and Texas A&M last year in Columbia.

Singles

#30 Urska Juric (MU) def. Lynzee Kever (CU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Jessica Vanderdys (CU) def. Katka Sevcikova (MU), 7-6, 5-7, 6-1

Kendra Strandemo (CU) def. Yelena Olshanskaya (MU), 6-3, 6-4

Kelly Crull (MU) def. Martina Sedivec (CU), 6-3, 4-6, 7-5

Mary Barry (MU) def. Morgan Sall (CU), 6-2, 6-4

Kristy Randono (CU) def. Erika Josbena (MU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Doubles

Sall/Vanderdys (CU) def. #30 Juric/Sevcikova (MU), 8-6

Strandemo/Kever (CU) def. Ruskova/Kraftova (MU), 8-4

Jenny Hanson/Sedivec (CU) def. Barry/Josbena (MU), 8-4