Feb. 4, 2010

Columbia, MO - The Missouri tennis team (1-1) will welcome Saint Louis University (2-2) and Purdue University (4-0) to the Green Tennis Center this weekend. The Tigers will face Saint Louis at noon on Saturday, Feb. 6, and Purdue at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Two weekends ago the Tigers took on Memphis and then No. 38 Ohio State in Columbia. The Tigers took a 4-1 victory over Memphis, before being defeated 7-0 by Ohio State. Missouri has spent the past two weeks in practice preparing for the remainder of their four match homestand.

“We've been working hard these past few weeks, and fixing what needs to be fixed. It's really important that we win at home with our schedule, and I am confident that these girls can do that with their friends and family around for support,” said Head Coach Blake Starkey.

Scouting Saint Louis University (2-2)*
The Billikens opened their spring season dropping two matches to Arkansas and Oklahoma State, both 6-1. The silver lining in both losses was a win at No. 1 singles by SLU junior Hailee Elmore, who has gone on a four match win streak, dropping just one set this spring to Arkansas' Emily Carbone. The Billikens have since seen two straight 7-0 wins over McKendree University and Southeast Missouri State. In the last meeting between the Tigers and Billikens, Missouri defeated Saint Louis 6-1, taking the doubles point and wins at No. 1-5 singles.

Scouting Purdue University (4-0)*
Purdue looks to claim another win on their season as they visit Columbia to take on the Tigers. The Boilermakers have shutout all of their opponents thus far this season with 7-0 wins over Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Cleveland State, and Illinois State. Several Tigers know what they are up against, having faced the Boilermakers in the Hilton Garden Inn Eagle Invite to open the spring season, and look to rebound on previous losses. Junior Mallory Weber lost to Purdue's Michelle Sammons in a three set super-tiebreaker, 6-1, 3-6, 10-7. Freshman Andrea Lewis met Purdue's Bhavani Tirumirti in a 6-3, 6-4 loss, and the Boilermakers took a win over senior Kristen Bleakley and freshman Maria Christensen, 9-7 in the No. 3 doubles bracket. Before arriving in Missouri, the Boilermakers will open their Big Ten Conference season at home on Friday against Penn State. Missouri will face four Big Ten opponents this season and is thus far 0-1 against the Big Ten this season, with a loss to Ohio State.

*Records as of Feb. 3, 2010. Both Saint Louis University and Purdue University will face opponents on Friday, Feb. 5, before traveling to  Missouri.