Sept. 28, 2009

Las Vegas, Nev. - Missouri Tennis opened its 2009 fall campaign at the highly competitive UNLV Invitational over the weekend, as the Tigers battled the host Rebels, the University of Texas, Northern Arizona and New Mexico State.

Tiger senior Kristen Bleakley highlighted Missouri's trip, earning the consolation crown in Flight Two of singles action, while freshman Andrea Lewis won a pair of matches to finish the weekend 2-1.

Kaitlyn Ritchie, Danielle Day and Lewis keyed a strong Mizzou effort in the opening day of competition, each earning wins in their respective quarter final flights. Ritchie defeated New Mexico State's Manon Sylvain 6-4, 6-2 in Flight Two, while Day upended UNLV's Anna Maskaljun 6-2, 6-3 in Flight Three. Lewis also stopped Northern Arizona's Ana Mendes 6-1, 6-0 to get the Tigers off to a solid start.

Jamie Mera, Bleakley, Maureen Modesto and senior Sophia Ayala bounced back to get singles wins in the second day of action. Mera defeated Northern Arizona's Orsi Celevics 6-4, 6-2 in Flight One, while Bleakley retired Aleksa Costa (New Mexico State) to get her first win of the year. Ayala cruised by Ginet Pinero 6-3, 6-2 to continue Missouri's solid showing and Modesto defeated Ami Oki of Northern Arizona in straight sets.

The MU doubles team of Mera and Weber also got their first win of 2009, topping New Mexico State's Sophia Marks and Aleksa Costa 8-6.

Competition concluded on Sunday, with Bleakley's 6-2, 6-1 win over New Mexico State's Manon Sylvain in the Flight Two consolation finals capping the day. The freshman Lewis also added a Tiger win, defeating UNLV's Ella Bourchier 6-2, 6-2.

Missouri Tennis returns to action this weekend at the Mizzou Ace for the Cure event, which runs Oct. 2-4 at the Green Tennis Center in Columbia.