April 10, 2008
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Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's tennis team (9-10/1-6 Big 12) hits the road for two Big 12 matches against the 67th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-4/3-4 Big 12) and the Iowa State Cyclones (4-10/0-7). The Tigers will face the Huskers Friday (April 11) at 10 a.m. and the Cyclones Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Trying to Reverse a Trend
The Tigers have lost their last four matches and eight of their last nine. Mizzou's lone triumph in that stretch was a 4-3 win over then-No. 55 Kansas. Last weekend, the Tigers showed good effort, but were still beaten by then-No. 31 Texas A&M and then-No. 19 Texas. In the A&M match, the Tigers won at No. 4 and No. 6 singles, getting wins from Maureen Modesto and Sofia Ayala, respectively. But it was not enough, as the Aggies swept the doubles point and won four of the six singles matches to take the win. Saturday against Texas, the Longhorns took the doubles point, but the Tigers took the first set in four singles matches. Mizzou could only hold on to one of those matches, however, as Texas remained unbeaten in conference play.
The Past Has Been Both Good and Bad
First the good part. The Tigers have a five-match winning streak against the Cyclones, who have finished last in the conference over those five seasons. In fact, Iowa State's last conference win came in 2002, when they beat Mizzou, 4-3, to earn their only victory of the season and finish ahead of the Tigers for 11th place in the league.
On the other side of good fortune, Mizzou is 7-22 against the Huskers in the series between the two programs. Nebraska has won four straight in the match-up, including a, 4-0, win in last season's Big 12 Championships.
A Look at This Year's Teams
Nebraska is an impressive 14-4 overall this season, including a 3-4 mark in the conference. After starting the season 11-0, which led to a No. 68 ranking, They lost their first match as a ranked team, as then-No. 4 Baylor topped them, 7-0. Of the three remaining losses, two have come against ranked teams (then-No. 32 Texas A&M and then-No. 17 Texas).
Iowa State is 4-10 overall and 0-7 in the conference after losing to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State last weekend. Saturday is Senior Day for Cyclones Caitlin Loprinzi and Chrissy Derouin.
Weber Tries to Get Back on Track at No. 1
Freshman Mallory Weber is 7-11 in dual matches this spring after losing two last weekend at No. 2 singles. She will play at No. 1 singles this weekend, against Imke Reimers of Nebraska and Erin Karonis of Iowa State. She earned all seven of her singles wins at No. 1, a total which 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 Tries to Rebound
Giuggioli, a junior transfer from the University of Kentucky, is 12-7 on the spring in singles play, which includes a 2-4 record at No. 1 and an 8-2 mark at No. 2. Last weekend, she lost two matches against A&M and Texas' top players. She will try to get back on track this week at No. 2 singles.
Modesto At 22
Tiger freshman Maureen Modesto earned two big wins last weekend, defeating A&M's Tiffany Clifford in straight sets at No. 4 singles Friday, and also beating UT's Maggie Mello in straight sets at No. 4 Sunday. Modesto's 22nd win of the 2007-08 season moved her up to a tie for 15th on Mizzou's all-time singles wins list for a season. Modesto's 22 also marks the most wins by a Mizzou player since the 2004-05 season.
Ritchie Ties Kramer's Mark
With her doubles win against Texas Tech's No. 3 duo on March 28th, Kaitlin Ritchie tied Carolyn Kramer's mark of 21 for a share of 15th place on Mizzou's season-best doubles totals. Up next is Katka Sevcikova's 22 wins from the 2004-05 season.
Tigers Finish 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 53-24 in the dome at 2001 S. Providence Rd. Mizzou finished with an 8-3 home record, including a big win over then-No. 55 Kansas.
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 9-10 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: Tigers Finish Regular Season
The Tigers will have two more regular season matches remaining after this weekend, both in the Sooner State. Friday (April 18) Mizzou will play Oklahoma State and Saturday (April 19) the Sooners will welcome the Tigers to Norman. The Big 12 Championships start April 24th in College Station, Texas.