University of Missouri
Southwest Missouri State
#39 Tigers Beat SMS
2/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Feb. 9, 2004
The Tigers improved to 4-0 on the year as they beat Southwest Missouri State 5-2 at home. The 30th-ranked duo of Juric and Sevcikova blanked SMS's Maria Amato and Marta Rubina 8-0. Lucie Ruskova and Hana Kraftova passed Elizabeth Garza and Maja Stanojevic 8-4, and Mary Barry and Erika Josbena were dominant in defeating Laura Alvarez and Biljana Gakovic 8-3.
In singles, the Tigers won four of the remaining six singles, as well as the one exhibition match at #7. #30 ranked Urska Juric beat Maja Stanojevic 6-2, 6-2 Katka Sevcikova was equally impressive with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Maria Amato. Yelena Olshanskaya moved up one spot to #3 and was unable to capitalize on three match points before finally falling to SMS's Marta Rubina. Hana Kraftova won a tight first set 7-6 before kicking it into gear for a 6-1 second set. Barry played well and forced a third set tiebreaker, before coming up just short to Elizabeth Garza 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). And Erika Josbena was solid at #6 with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over Biljana Gakovic.
"Doubles continues to be strong, which is good, but we were sluggish in some of the singles," MU coach Blake Starkey said. "We all agreed afterwards that we're capable of being a better team and playing better. We're looking forward to our next matches."
Singles
Urska Juric (MU) def. Maja Stanojevic (SMS), 6-2, 6-2
Katka Sevcikova (MU) def. Maria Amato (SMS), 6-1, 6-3
Marta Rubina (SMS) def. Yelena Olshanskaya (MU), 6-4, 5-7, 7-5
Hana Kraftova (MU) def. Laura Alvarez (SMS), 7-6, 6-1
Elizabeth Garza (SMS) def. Mary Barry (MU), 2-6, 6-4, 7-6
Erika Josbena (MU) def. Biljana Gakovic (SMS), 6-4, 7-6
Lucie Ruskova (MU) def. Lina Duque (SMS), 8-1
Doubles
Juric/Sevcikova (MU) def. Amato/Rubina (SMS), 8-0
Ruskova/Kraftova (MU) def. Garza/Stanojevic (SMS), 8-4
Barry/Josbena (MU) def. Alvarez/Gakovic (SMS), 8-3
Players Mentioned
