University of Missouri
Iowa State
Mizzou Sweeps Iowa State, 7-0
4/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 12, 2008
Ames, Iowa - The University of Missouri women's tennis team (10-11/2-7 Big 12) defeated the Iowa State Cyclones (4-12/0-9 Big 12), 7-0, Saturday evening on the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center's indoor courts in Ames, Iowa. The win is Mizzou's second league win of the season. They have now beaten Iowa State six straight times, dating back to the 2003 season.
"Everyone in the conference knows that Iowa State has gotten better than they were a year ago," Tiger Head Coach Blake Starkey said. "We have had a lot of very close loses lately, so it was really nice to win at their place. But I was certainly impressed with Iowa State's team."
The Tigers started the day by sweeping the doubles point. At No. 1 Kaitlin Dunham and Sofia Ayala earned their first conference win at No. 1 by winning a close match against Erin Karonis and Chrissy Derouin. The Tiger duo took the tiebreaker, 7-4, after the match was tied at 7-7.
At No. 2, Chrissy Svetlic and Mallory Weber beat Caitlin Loprinzi and Kara Hickey, 8-4, to earn their second consecutive Big 12 victory.
Mizzou's No. 3 team also won their second-straight conference match, as the Tiger duo of Jessica Giuggioli and Kaitlyn Ritchie blanked Liza Wischer and Alyssa Palen, 8-0. Giuggioli and Ritchie have won five of their last six doubles matches, and the win was Ritchie's 23rd of the season, including fall tournament play. That mark ties her for 12th on Mizzou's single-season doubles wins list with Helen Wilson, who earned 23 wins in the 1979-80 season.
The Tigers would continue their strong play in singles action, where they took all six matches. The sweep did not come easily, however, as it took three sets to win each of the top three singles contests.
At No. 1, Karonis came out hitting hard in the first set, winning easily, 6-2. She was playing well, but she seemed to be bothered by a leg injury. Weber took advantage, winning the second set, 6-2, and a close third, 7-5. The win is her eighth at No. 1 this spring.
Giuggioli also had a hard time in her first set, but came back to win the second and third sets to take the match, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-0, against Hickey at No. 2 singles.
Svetlic spoiled Loprinzi's senior night, taking a, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1, win at No. 3. It is Svetlic's first win since a three-set win on Feb. 29th against Minnesota's Elena Kazakova.
Tiger freshman Maureen Modesto earned her 23rd victory of the 2007-08 season with a straight-set win over Derouin at No. 4 singles. Ritchie also picked up a win, defeating Palen in straight sets.
At No. 6, Ayala beat Wischer, 6-3, 6-4, to earn her ninth of the spring. She has won four of her last five Big 12 matches in straight sets
The Tigers still have two more regular season matches remaining, both in the Sooner State. Friday (April 18) Mizzou will play at 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.
Missouri, 7 Iowa State, 0
Ames Racquet and Fitness Center, Ames, Iowa
Doubles
No. 1- Dunham/Ayala (MIZZ) def. Karonis/Derouin (ISU) 8-7(4)
No. 2- Weber/Svetlic (MIZZ) def. Loprinzi/Hickey (ISU) 8-4
No. 3- Giuggioli/Ritchie (MIZZ) def. Wischer/Palen (ISU) 8-0
Singles
No. 1- Weber (MIZZ) def. Karonis (ISU) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
No. 2- Giuggioli (MIZZ) def. Hickey (ISU) 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-0
No. 3- Svetlic (MIZZ) def. Loprinzi (ISU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
No. 4- Modesto (MIZZ) def. Derouin (ISU) 6-2, 6-0
No. 5- Ritchie (MIZZ) def. Palen (ISU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 6- Ayala (MIZZ) def. Wischer (ISU) 6-3, 6-4
Players Mentioned
