May 11, 2007

Columbia, Mo. - Mizzou Women's Tennis Spring Season Review

Tigers earn three Big 12 victories, most since 2005

As usual, Coach Starkey scheduled a rigorous national schedule for the Tigers. Overall, the schedule payed off as the Mizzou Tennis program made great strides throughout the 2007 campaign, finishing with a much-improved three Big 12 Conference victories, while setting the stage for future success.

Tiger Head Coach Blake Starkey

Overall, the Tigers were able to topple Big 12 foes Iowa State, Kansas State and Kansas en route to the improved three-win performance in Big 12 action and 8-12 record overall.

The Tigers started the season in strong fashion, sweeping Saint Louis University 7-0 for their first win of the year. Each of the Tigers earned straight-sets victories, including Amanda Pratzel, who defeated Katie Lozanova 7-5, 6-3 at No. 1 singles.

The Tigers returned to the GreenTennis Center on Feb. 3 to face No. 52 Arkansas. Despite the 6-1 defeat to the nationally-ranked Lady Razorbacks, Mizzou got a strong effort from Kaitlin Dunham, who topped Carly Dixon in straight sets for her second win of the spring.

The difficult spring slate continued as Mizzou faced No. 63 Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. Although the Cornhuskers grabbed a 6-1 victory, Dunham continued to shine, earning her first Big 12 win as a Tiger, topping Marianne Cicmanec 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Following a tough Big 12-opener, Mizzou returned to Columbia for a seven-match home stand, a stretch in which the Tigers would open with wins in four of their first-five opportunities. Dunham and Pratzel continued their strong play against Murray State, leading the Tigers to a 6-1 win. Following a 7-0 defeat to Big 12 power No. 29 Texas A&M, Missouri rebounded with wins over Drake and Montana.

The Tigers then secured one of their biggest wins of the season, toppling No. 63 Kansas State at home, to not only improved to 1-2 in Big 12 play, but earn their first Big 12 home win since the 2005 campaign.

Following a win in doubles play, Missouri got victories from Pratzel, Dunham, Raquel Wagner and Katelyn McKenzie to earn the dominating 5-2 victory.

That strong performance propelled Missouri into the ITA national rankings for the first time since the 2005 campaign as Mizzou notched a No. 68 national billing.

Erika Josbena (right) hits a return back to CU's No. 2 duo of Jendrain and Milewski in the Tigers' 7-0 loss to Colorado Feb. 25 in Columbia. The match was the Tigers' first outdoor match of the year.

Although No. 30 Colorado exited the Green Tennis Center with a win a week later, Pratzel continued to excel in her senior season and earned a straight-sets win over the Buffs' Camila Belassi.

The final match of the home stand came on March 12, as the Tigers barely fell 4-3 to Louisville. MU claimed the doubles point behind the strong play of seniors Pratzel and Erika Josbena. The win was Josbena's 59th of her doubles career, moving her to sixth all-time in doubles victories. The Cardinals spoiled Mizzou's doubles win, however, winning the first-four singles matches, three in three sets, to clinch the victory.

Despite the loss Missouri remained in the national rankings as they entered a difficult six-match road stretch, including a two-match swing through Oklahoma. The first half of the Sooner State trip saw the Tigers fall 5-2 in Norman, before a 7-0 loss in Stillwater dropped MU to 1-5 in the Big 12 standings. The Tigers followed a narrow 5-2 loss at Syracuse with a dominating 6-1 triumph at Army that got the Tigers back in the win column. Pratzel again led the Tigers with her second win at No. 1 singles to stop the four-match skid.

The Tigers concluded the road trip with tight losses at No. 69 Texas Tech and No. 16 Baylor, before returning home to topple rival Kansas 4-3 at the Green Tennis Center. Part of the Midwest Ford Dealers Border Showdown, Missouri made the most of its return home, getting strong efforts from Svetlic (at No. 2), Dunham (at No. 4) and Wagner (at No. 6). Mizzou also claimed the doubles point to earn its second Big 12 win of the year.

Svetlic would continue her winning ways in the Tigers' next match against Iowa State, this time securing a crucial win at No. 1. The Kansas City, Mo., native defeated ISU senior Jill Palen to give Mizzou a much-needed lift to overtake the Cyclones 4-3. The victory was Svetlic's first at No. 1 singles and handed MU its third win of the Big 12 season, the program's most since the 2005 campaign. Josbena also earned an important win against Iowa State, defeating Caitlin Loprinzi in straight sets to earn her 47th career victory, putting her 13th all-time on Mizzou's career singles leader board.

Katelyn McKenzie serves during the Big 12 Championships at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City

With their three conference wins, Missouri enjoyed the No. 9 seed at the Big 12 Championships and a lined up against No. 8-seeded Nebraska. Conditions for the match were far from perfect at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, with gusting winds and mild temperatures making play difficult. The Tigers had more to worry about than the weather, however, especially after Nebraska took the doubles point to go up, 1-0. In singles action, No. 57-ranked Imke Reimers took down Pratzel at No. 1, and Nebraska also won at No. 3 and No. 6 singles, to give them the victory. At the conference tournament, all play is suspended once the match is decided, which was a shame since the suspended matches were all very close.

Josbena (left) reaches for a ball in her Big 12 Championships doubles match with partner Amanda Pratzel.

Although the season ended following the opening round of the Big 12 Championships, the 2007 Tigers laid a solid foundation for Head Coach Blake Starkey's squad. Missouri will have three experienced players returning in 2008, and will welcome a talented core of newcomers that should help MU continue its steady progress in the Big 12 and national standings next season.