Feb. 3, 2007

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's tennis team lost to No. 52 Arkansas, 6-1 Saturday afternoon at the Green Tennis Center in Columbia, Mo. The match was Mizzou's home opener and second match overall. The Tigers are now 1-1 on the young spring season.

There was a good turnout for Mizzou's home opener. Even with the cold temperatures outside and the sold out men's basketball game against Nebraska at Mizzou Arena, the Green Tennis Center's bleachers were full of supportive Tiger fans.

And despite the fact the Tigers lost their first match of the season, Tiger Head Coach Blake Starkey said this match would help the team in the long run.

"First off, Arkansas is a very good team, and I'd rather put us out there with these kind of teams ... We won't see a better top four, I mean one through four (singles), that's about as good as we'll run into this year ... But by playing at this speed, even though some kids took a loss today, this is going to help them down the road."

The Tigers earned a victory and a point at No. 6 singles, as freshman Kaitlin Dunham defeated Carly Dixon, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Dunham won the first set tiebreak, 7-4, and then went on to win the second set, 6-4 to give the Tigers their only victory on the day. Dunham credited her strong net play and her aggressiveness as the reason for the victory.

"I knew (Dixon) was a really good competitor, and she was going to fight, so I knew I had to fight that much harder, had to lift my level up."

Dunham did just that to earn her second victory of the spring season. She improves to 2-0, on the young season.

But Dunham's effort alone was not enough, as the Tigers couldn't handle the Lady Razorbacks in the other eight matches.

In doubles action, the Tigers faced a tough test at No. 1. Arkansas' No. 1 duo of Audrey Bordeleau and Ela Kaluder defeated Katelyn McKenzie and Raquel Wagner, 8-4. The UA duo is now 3-0 on the season. McKenzie and Wagner fall to 1-1.

At No. 2 doubles, Amanda Pratzel and Erika Josbena played their first match of the spring after going 10-7 during the fall. The team was outmatched today, however, and fell to UA's Maryori Franco and Nanar Airapetian, 8-6.

The Tigers' No. 3 duo of Chrissy Svetlic and Kaitlin Dunham also fell, 8-6, to their Arkansas opponents.

Singles action was not much kinder to the Tigers as they fell in five of the six matches.

At No. 1, Pratzel lost to 65th-ranked Ela Kaluder, 6-0, 6-1. Pratzel falls to 1-1 at the No. 1 spot for the Tigers this season. Kaluder improves her mark to 3-0 on the season.

On the No. 2 court, Josbena gave a strong effort, but lost to Franco, 6-3, 6-4, in Josbena's first singles match of the spring. She missed last week's game against SLU due to a minor injury.

At No. 3, Airapetian defeated Svetlic, 6-2, 6-0, and at No. 4, Bordeleau defeated Wagner, 6-3, 6-1.

At. No. 5, Wilhelm downed McKenzie by winning two close sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Next weekend the Tigers will travel to Lincoln, Neb., to face No. 65 Nebraska in Mizzou's Big 12 opener. Saturday's match will begin at 11 a.m. Mizzou's next home match is set for Feb. 17 when they take on Murray State in the Green Tennis Center.

(52) Arkansas 6 Missouri 1

Feb. 3, 2007 1 p.m.

Green Tennis Center Indoor Courts

Columbia, Mo.

Doubles

1. Audrey Bordeleau/Ela Kaluder (UA) def. Katelyn McKenzie/Raquel Wagner (MU) 8-4

2. Maryori Franco/Nanar Airapetian (UA) def. Amanda Pratzel/Erika Josbena (MU) 8-6

3. Rachel Wilhelm/Melissa Hoffmeister (UA) def. Chrissy Svetlic/Kaitlin Dunham (MU) 8-6.

Singles

1. (65) Ela Kaluder (UA) def. Amanda Pratzel (MU) 6-0, 6-1

2. Maryori Franco (UA) def. Erika Josbena (MU) 6-3, 6-4

3. Nanar Airapetian (UA) def. Chrissy Svetlic (MU) 6-2, 6-0

4. Audrey Bordeleau (UA) def. Raquel Wagner (MU) 6-3, 6-1

5. Rachel Wilhelm (UA) def. Katelyn McKenzie (MU) 6-4, 6-4

6. Kaitlin Dunham (MU) def. Carly Dixon (UA) 7-6 (4), 6-4