Jan. 29, 2008
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Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's tennis team (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) hosts the Saint Louis Billikens (0-0, 0-0 Atlantic 10) Wednesday at 2 p.m. inside the Green Tennis Center in Columbia. The match will serve as the home opener for the Tigers, and the season opener for the Billikens, whose match against McKendree scheduled for last weekend was postponed.
Last Time Out:
The Tigers opened the season with a 7-0 loss to No. 53 Arkansas in Bentonville, Ark., Saturday afternoon. Arkansas earned their third victory of the season, while Mizzou lost its opener for only the third time under Head Coach Blake Starkey. The Tigers are now 8-3 in spring season opening matches under Starkey.
Series vs. SLU
The Tigers and Billikens have faced off 18 times in the history of the two programs, with the Tigers winning 12 of those. In fact, Mizzou has taken the last five matches, including last season's season-opening 7-0 victory at the Sunset Tennis Center in the St. Louis area. Speaking of 7-0 wins, the Tigers also defeated SLU by that score in 2006 and 2003, the two previous matches between the schools.
Tigers and Billikens in the Fall
Mizzou and SLU players faced off in the fall at the Mizzou Invitational. Tiger freshman Maureen Modesto defeated SLU's Jo Becker in straight sets. Kaitlin Ritchie went 2-0 against Billikens in the Mizzou Invite, defeating Sarah Septien and Tara Grant, also in straight sets. Svetlic also defeated Septien in straight sets.
Double Trouble
Despite falling in the season-opener, Mizzou's top doubles duo of Svetlic and Weber still look to lead the Tigers throughout the 2008 season. The duo 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.
Big Homestand
The Tigers will start a seven-match homestand Wednesday against the Billikens. Mizzou will host UMKC Friday, Syracuse Sunday, Xavier and Chicago State Feb. 9 and Southeast Missouri and Illinois-Chicago Feb. 16. After these seven matches, the Tigers will only have four remaining home matches; Kansas State (Mar. 14), Kansas (Mar. 16), Texas A&M (April 4) and Texas (April 5).
Tigers Begin Seventh Season at GTC
The Green Tennis Center has served as the home of Mizzou tennis since the spring of 2002, when Mizzou opened its doors with a 5-4 home record. The Tigers have continued that home success throughout the six seasons at the GTC, going 45-21 in that time. The center is named after the father of Jerry Green, who donated $500,000 for the construction of the facility. Green owns WHB 810 Radio in Kansas City. His father played tennis for Mizzou in the 1920's.
Close to the Leaderboard
Svetlic has earned 35 singles and 33 doubles victories as a Tiger after transferring from Northern Illinois University during her sophomore season. She is just three doubles wins away from tying former Tiger Yelena Olshanskaya for 15th place all-time.
Coaching Staff: Two Blakes!
As Tiger Head Coach Blake Starkey enters his 11th season at the helm, he brings Assistant Coach Blake Edwards on board to lead Mizzou in 2008. Starkey, who went 106-120 in his first ten seasons, enters his second decade with one of his goals fulfilled already, he has a ranked doubles team. He would also like to see singles players, as well as the team as a whole, enter the rankings. Another one of his goals includes building a true team, and bringing individuals with different backgrounds closer together.
Tiger Hometowns: The Heartland and Beyond
Speaking of different backgrounds, Mizzou's 2008 players come from both far and near. Starkey has recruited five players from the USTA Missouri Valley Section (Dunham, Ritchie, Svetlic, Wagner and Weber) while adding one from Indiana (Modesto). Also joining the Tigers in 2008; Sofia Ayala, a native of Quito, Ecuador, who played for Alabama, and Jessica Giugioli, a Piombino, Italy, native, who played with Kentucky last season.
Coming Up Next...
The Tigers will host UMKC Friday at 3 pm and Syracuse Sunday at noon. Both matches are free and open to the public.