Tigers Host Musketeers and Cougars in Saturday Doubleheader
2/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Feb. 8, 2008
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Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri women's tennis team (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) looks to continue its three-match home winning streak Saturday when Xavier (5-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10) and Chicago State (0-0, 0-0 Mid-Continent) come to the Green Tennis Center. In addition to the two matches Saturday, the two visiting teams will play each other Sunday morning at 10 am.
Mizzou Looks to Continue Hot Streak
The Tigers are 3-1 on the season, as they have won three straight home matches after losing the season opener to then-No. 53 Arkansas. Mizzou defeated Saint Louis (Jan. 30) UMKC (Feb. 1) and Syracuse (Feb. 3) to start the home season off right. The Tigers have these two home matches, and two next weekend, against Southeast Missouri and Illinois-Chicago, before they hit the road to face No. 46 Iowa.
Doubles First
The 43rd-ranked Tiger duo of Chrissy Svetlic and Mallory Weber has also won three straight matches at No. 1 after falling at Arkansas. The pair is now 8-2 on the season, after a 5-1 fall sparked national attention. 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 8-2 record with Svetlic, Weber won four additional matches with fellow newcomer Kaitlyn Ritchie at the beginning of the season, giving her a 12-2 record this season.
In the Middle of it all
The Tigers are in the midst of a seven-match homestand at the Green Tennis Center. Mizzou will host Xavier and Chicago State Feb. 9 and Southeast Missouri and Illinois-Chicago Feb. 16. After the 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 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 48-21 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.
On the Leaderboard
Svetlic has earned 38 singles and 36 doubles victories as a Tiger after transferring from Northern Illinois University during her sophomore season. Her 36 doubles wins ties her with former Tiger Yelena Olshanskaya for 15th place all-time.
Getting There
Tiger freshman Maureen Modesto leads the team with 14 singles victories in the 2007-08 season. She went 12-3 in the fall, and goes into this weekend with a 2-2 spring record. She is eight wins away from 15th place on the Mizzou leaderboard for wins in a season.
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.
Up Next:
The Tigers will host Southeast Missouri and Illinois-Chicago Saturday Feb. 16 in the second of two doubleheaders this season. The SEMO match starts at 9 am while the UIC contest will begin at 3 pm. Admission is free and Tiger fans are encouraged to attend.
