Jan. 25, 2008
Columbia, Mo. -
Complete Release in PDF Format
The University of Missouri women's tennis team starts the season against No. 53 Arkansas Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark. The Tigers face a tough test as they begin the season on the road against a ranked team, and the top-ranked singles player in the country, Aurelija Miseviciute. But Mizzou has a couple of ranked players themselves, as the doubles team of Chrissy Svetlic and Mallory Weber starts the season ranked 43rd nationally. After the road match, the Tigers will return to Columbia for sseven straight exciting home contests, starting with in-state rival Saint Louis Jan. 30.
Let's get it started
The match in Fayetteville opens the 2008 season for the Tigers, who are 8-2 in spring season opening matches under Head Coach Blake Starkey. Last season, the Tigers defeated Saint Louis, 7-0, in St. Louis to open the season on a good note. The Tigers are 16-11 all-time in season-opening dual matches.
Double Trouble
Mizzou's top doubles duo of Svetlic and Weber went 5-1 in the fall season, including championship wins in the Maryland and Mizzou tournaments. Svetlic, a senior from Kansas City, Mo., earned 17 doubles victories during the 2006-07 season. Her partner already proves she belongs at the top. In addition to her 5-1 record with Svetlic, Weber won four additional matches with fellow newcomer Kaitlyn Ritchie at the beginning of the season.
Plenty of Newcomers
The Tigers lost several players to graduation last season, but Coach Starkey was sure to stock up on talent in the offseason. In addition to Weber and Ritchie, freshman Maureen Modesto, junior transfer Sofia Ayala and junior transfer Jessica Giuggioli join the TIgers.
Quick Fall Review, Player-by-Player
Ayala Off To A Good Start
Ayala started her Tiger career with six wins in the fall, inclunding a straight-set victory over Iowa State veteran Chrissy Derouin in the Drake Invitational. She also defeated Illinois State's Tanja Hrovatic to win the D draw at the Mizzou Invitational. The sophomore transfer also won three doubles matches with partner Dunham. They defeated two Iowa State duos in the Drake Invitational, as well as a pair from Miami (Ohio) in the Maryland Invite. The Quito, Ecuador, native looks to provide depth in the Tiger lineup and help the team throughout the season.
Dunham Back At It
After eaning 13 victories in both the spring and the fall of her freshman season, Dunham has come back to the lineup even stronger and ready to collect more wins. She won seven times in singles action during the fall of her sophomore year, including two wins over Iowa State players. In consolation action at the Drake Invite, she blanked Iowa State's Alyssa Palen, 6-0, 6-0. Dunham also earned six doubles victories.
Closer Look at the Newest Tiger
Jessica Giuggioli, a native of Torino, Italy, comes to Mizzou from the University of Kentucky, where she earned 14 singles victories last spring in the No. 4, 5 and 6 singles spots for the Wildcats. During the fall of 2007, she won five matches, including her last two.
Modesto Fitting in Nicely
Modesto wasted no time collecting victories as a Tiger, winning 13 singles matches in the fall, to go along with three doubles wins. She won the B flight singles title at the Drake Invitational, defeating four Big 12 opponents on her way. She followed that up by winning three of four matches at the Maryland Invitational and advancing to the final of the B Draw at the Mizzou Invitational.
Ritchie Makes Waves
Ritchie entered the Tiger lineup with a bang in Des Moines, Iowa, when she defeated Drake senior Irina Kalashnikova at the Drake Invitational. She went on to win four more singles matches in the fall, including two victories over Saint Louis players Tara Grant and Sarah Septien. Perhaps more impressive than her singles record was her doubles performance, as she teamed up with three different partners to win nine matches. She started the season with Weber, and the duo won the Drake Invitational, collecting four wins in Des Moines. She then teamed up with Modesto for the Maryland Invitational and Dunham for the Mizzou Invitational, earning five more victories with her new partners.
Svetlic Solid
Svetlic has a high standard to live up to in 2007-08, as she earned 19 total singles victories last season, a team high. The senior has four singles victories so far this season, including three in the Mizzou Invitational on her way to the B Draw Championship. The previously mentioned doubles success took a short time to develop. Once she teamed with Weber, the duo won their first five matches, earning titles in the MIzzou and Maryland Invitationals.
Weber's Accomplishments...
...include an impressive 9-1 doubles record and an 8-4 singles mark in the fall. In addition to the doubles resume, she also claimed the A Singles Flight title at the Drake Invitational. She played well in the top flights at the Maryland Invitational as well as the Mizzou tournament.
Coming Up Next...
After the tough road test in Fayetteville, Mizzou will return home for seven home matches, starting with a contest against Saint Louis Jan. 30. The match starts at 2 pm. at the Green Tennis Center in Columbia.