Sept. 26, 2008

Las Vegas, Nev. – The lady Tigers visited Las Vegas Nevada where hosting school, the University of Nevada – Las Vegas, welcomed four other collegiate programs, including Mizzou, to the UNLV Invitational. Play started at 10 a.m. PDT, Friday (Sept. 26) in the Fertitta Tennis Complex in Las Vegas, Nev. The day consisted of the first round of singles followed by the first round of doubles. Competition was divided into four brackets of singles and four brackets of doubles.

In singles action Jessica Giuggioli and Kaitlyn Ritchie lead the women in Flight One. Giuggioli defeated Edit Sujhadra of Northern Arizona, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 to move onto the semifinals. Ritchie followed suit recording a win over Natalia Lech of Illinois State University, 6-2, 6-2. Jamie Mera and Mallory Weber represented Mizzou in Flight Two earning wins over Nikol Dimitrova of UNLV, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, and Kim Van Ginkel of Northern Arizona, 6-3, 6-4, respectively.

In Flight Two of doubles Giuggioli and Ritchie defeated Illinois State's Julia Zubkova and Franzi Stienhardt, 8-5. Friday's win will advance the Tigers to tomorrow's doubles finals round. Flight Three also saw Mizzou success as Maureen Modesto and Sofia Ayala defeated Aimee Oki and Stacey Pinchbeck of Northern Arizona, 8-4.

Play will continue Saturday (Sept. 27) in the Fertitta Tennis Complex at 10 a.m. PDT. The day will start with singles semifinals followed by doubles finals.