March 5, 2008
Columbia, Mo. -
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The University of Missouri women's tennis team (8-4/0-0 Big 12) will start the Big 12 schedule in Boulder, Colo., Saturday at 10 am (CT) against the Colorado Buffaloes (2-6/0-0 Big 12). The Tigers will look to get off to a good start in conference play after an 8-4 non-conference season, which included a seven-match winning streak.
Last Weekend
Mizzou went 0-2 last weekend against then-No. 54 Minnesota and Wisconsin. Friday (Feb. 29) the Gophers edged the Tigers, 4-3, in a close match in Minneapolis. The Tigers on at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles, but Minnesota took the other three singles matches, as well as the doubles point, to beat Mizzou. Sunday (Feb. 2) Wisconsin defeated Mizzou, 5-2, winning the doubles point, and Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 6 singles. There were some bright spots on the weekend, however. Junior Jessica Giuggioli went 2-0 at No. 2 singles, improving her spring record to 10-2. In doubles, she and freshman doubles partner Kaitlyn Ritchie won their match at No. 3 doubles Sunday against the Badgers, marking Ritchie's 18th doubles win going back to the fall. Tiger freshman Mallory Weber (Belleville, Ill.) is 7-3 in the No. 1 spot.
Starting Anew
As we step into a new `spring,' the conference season, Mizzou will have new chances to prove themselves against the Big 12. The Tigers have only won four conference matches over the last two seasons (4-18) and they have lost their conference openers each of the past four seasons, but they have two returners and five newcomers that are eager to change those trends. The Big 12 only has three teams (Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M) ranked in the top 65 of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's computer rankings, but solid squads such as Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech snuck into the top 70 this week. The Tigers hope to continue protecting their home courts, as they started the season with a 7-0 home record. They also hope recent challenges on the road can make them as strong as they need to be going into Big 12 play.
Closer look at Colorado
The Buffaloes started the season ranked 38th in the ITA rankings, but after a 2-6 start, they were not included in this week's ITA computer poll. CU was recently ranked as high as 64th, in the Feb. 20 ITA poll. The Buffs have played a few tough teams, however. Of their six losses, four were to teams ranked in the top 70, and three of those were away from Boulder. Monica Milewski has played all eight of the Buffaloes' matches at No. 1 singles, going 4-4 in those contests. The junior from Park Ridge, Ill., is one win away from her 50th career victory. Camila Belassi is 3-5 at No. 2 this spring.
Tiger Notes
Weber Gets Another Win at No. 1
Weber is an impressive 7-3 this season at the No. 1 singles position. Her seven wins more than doubles Mizzou's win total at No. 1 last season (three). She has earned the most No. 1 wins since the 2005 season, when Katka Sevcikova earned 14 victories at the top spot. Her seven wins ties Jessica Ferguson's total of seven her freshman season (2001), the last Mizzou freshman to win seven at No. 1.
Giuggioli Solid at No. 2
The junior transfer from the University of Kentucky has found her spot at Mizzou...the No. 2 singles spot, that is. After two wins last weekend, she is 6-1 at No. 2, to go along with a 2-0 record at No. 1. She will look for win number seven at No. 2 Saturday when she faces Belassi.
Ritchie Continues Doubles Success
Ritchie and Giuggioli won their match at No. 3 doubles Sunday against the Badgers, marking Ritchie's 18th doubles win going back to the fall. She is only three wins away from cracking the single-season top-15 list. In case you're keeping track at home, her record is 18-4, which means she's winning .818% of her doubles contests. Former Tigers Urska Juric and Sevcikova hold the record for highest winning percentage in a season, when they went 37-8 (.822) in 2001-02.
Svetlic Good at 3....or 4
Tiger senior Chrissy Svetlic has won nine of her last 10 singles matches...to make a 9-2 dual match record. She will play at No. 3 Saturday, where she is 3-1 this spring. She has also found success at the No. 4 spot, going 4-1 in five matches.
Modesto Keeps Adding
Freshman Maureen Modesto won her last match at No. 5 singles, a 6-0, 6-1, victory against Wisconsin, to earn her seventh dual match victory and 19th win overall. She is only three wins from entering the single-season singles wins list. She will try for number 20 Saturday at No. 5 against Melisa Esposito, who is 3-4 this spring.
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 52-21 in the dome at 2001 S. Providence Rd. The Tigers will be back in action at home March 14 and 16 when Kansas State and Kansas come to town.
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 searching for more. With a 8-4 start to this season, the future looks good for the two Blakes.
Tiger Hometowns: The Heartland and Beyond
Speaking of different backgrounds, Mizzou's 2008 players come from both far and near. Starkey has recruited four players from the USTA Missouri Valley Section (Dunham, Ritchie, Svetlic and Weber) while adding one from Indiana (Modesto). Also joining the Tigers in 2008; Ayala, a native of Quito, Ecuador, who played for Alabama, and Giuggioli, a Piombino, Italy, native, who played with Kentucky last season.
UP NEXT: Exciting Big 12 Action
The Tigers will head back to Columbia after their Rocky Mountain trip and prepare for two exciting Big 12 matches next week. Friday (March 14) the Tigers will welcome No. 67 Kansas State to the Green Tennis Center for a noon matchup, while the Kansas Jayhawks come to the GTC Sunday (March 16). Admission to both matches is free.