Feb. 15, 2008
Columbia, Mo. -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
The University of Missouri women's tennis team (5-1/0-0 Big 12) hosts its second doubleheader in as many weeks as Southeast Missouri (0-0/0-0 Ohio Valley) and Illinois-Chicago (1-1/0-0 Horizon League) come to the Green Tennis Center. Saturday, the Tigers host the Redhawks at 9 am and Flames at 3 pm, and SEMO and UIC will play each other at 9 am Sunday.
That's Five in a Row!
With two wins last weekend, over Xavier and Chicago State, the Tigers improved their winning streak to five matches, their longest since the 2005 season, when they reeled off eight straight wins.
Home Sweet Home
All five of Mizzou's victories this season have come at the Green Tennis Center. MU's overall record at the GTC is an impressive 50-21, dating back to the 2002 season. The Tigers have the doubleheader Saturday and then only two more home weekends on the schedule. Kansas State and Kansas come to town March 14 and 16, respectively, and Texas A&M and Texas April 4 and 5, respectively.
Quietly Getting it Done at No. 1
Tiger freshman Mallory Weber is 5-1 in the No. 1 singles spot this season. Her five wins at No. 1 already surpass last year's total of three for the Tigers. Current Tiger Chrissy Svetlic earned one, as well as former Tigers Erika Josbena and Amanda Pratzel. Perhaps more impressive than Weber's five wins is the way she has done it, winning all but one in straight sets. She also piled up eight wins in the fall, giving her 13 overall victories so far this season.
Playing Well Wherever She's at
Junior transfer Jessica Giuggioli is no stranger to moving around in life, so the fact that she has played in the Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 singles spots should not be a surprise. Giuggioli was born in Piombino, Italy, and later moved up the coast to Turin, an inland city near France. She then came to America to attend a tennis camp in South Carolina before going to the University of Kentucky for a two and a half seasons.
If You Like Close Matches...
...you're out of luck, because the Tigers have not played one close match this season. After Arkansas, who is now ranked 24th, defeated Mizzou, 7-0, to begin the season, the Tigers have won, 6-1, four times and, 7-0, once.
Modesto Leads the Wins Category
Tiger freshman Maureen Modesto is wasting no time accumulating singles victories. Modesto has 15 between the fall and spring, only seven away from 15th on the season wins leaderboard.
Series vs. Flames and Redhawks
Mizzou leads the series against the Cape Girardeau-based Redhawks, 7-3, after the first ten regular season meetings. The Tigers also won the Missouri Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (MAIAW) State title by defeating Southeast Missouri, 6-0, in May 1979. That win was part of the program-record 24 that the 1978-79 team recorded. The Tigers beat UIC in the only two meetings between the two schools.
Familiar Face: Nadasska Comes Back
Former Tiger Lubica Nadasska transferred to UIC following her sophomore season in 2006. She earned 27 singles victories in her two seasons in Columbia, before joining the Flames. Last year she earned 12 singles wins, and she is 2-3 this season, with a 1-1 record this spring at No. 2 singles.
The Rest of the Flames
UIC is 1-1 after splitting their first two matches last weekend. The Flames fell to Bowling Green, 6-1, and defeated Toledo, 4-3. Freshman Ilinca Cristescu has a 1-1 record at No. 1 singles for the Flames.
South by Southeast
SEMO is kicking off their 2008 spring season Saturday. The Redhawks were 10-14 last season, and are picked to finish ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference. Seniors Bryce and Drew Kristal lead the team. Bryce earned 17 victories at No. 1 singles last season.
Tigers Continue 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 50-21 in that time.
On the Leaderboard
Svetlic has earned 40 singles and 38 doubles victories as a Tiger after transferring from Northern Illinois University during her sophomore season. Her 38 doubles wins puts her in 15th place, all-time, one behind Nancy Fudemberg, who earned 39 doubles contests in her only season as a Tiger (1978-79). Svetlic is six singles wins away from a tie 13th place, and a spot on the singles leaderboard.
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 Giuggioli, a Piombino, Italy, native, who played with Kentucky last season.
Next Up: Road Trip!
The Tigers will head out of Columbia for next weekend's matches against Iowa and Drake on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Stay with MUTigers.com for complete previews and recaps of all Mizzou matches.