March 6, 2010

Iowa City, Iowa - The University of Missouri fell 5-2 to Big Ten foe No. 54 University of Iowa Saturday morning at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.

"The girls didn't play badly today . . . just played a very strong Iowa team in Iowa.  Had we gotten out of the gates earlier in both singles and doubles, it would have been a difference maker, and that's something we need to keep working towards," said Head Coach Blake Starkey. "But a very good Iowa team had a lot to do with us not doing that, so credit them.  Jamie, Kaitlin, Mallory and Maria in particular all played really well today.  Maria almost squeeked hers into a third, but just came up short there at the end.  But she played a great match.  The whole group is tough, getting better each week, and we're proud of them."

The Tigers dropped the doubles point, but picked up a win at No. 3 doubles with freshman Andrea Lewis and senior Kristen Bleakley defeating Lynne Poggensee-Wei and Alexis Dorr 8-6.

In singles, Missouri grabbed two matches. Junior Kaitlyn Ritchie beat Poggensee-Wei 6-2, 6-4 at No.2 singles, and junior Mallory Weber topped Iowa's Merel Beelen in a three-setter, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.

The Tigers return to the court next weekend opening conference play at Iowa State and Nebraska.

Singles
1. No. 77 Sonja Molnar (Iowa) def. Jamie Mera (Missouri) 6-0, 6-4
2. Kaitlyn Ritchie (Missouri) def. Lynne Poggensee-Wei (Iowa) 6-2, 6-4
3. Mallory Weber (Missouri) def. Merel Beelen (Iowa) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
4. Jessica Young (Iowa) def. Maria Christensen (Missouri) 6-1, 7-6(5)
5. Kelcie Klockenga (Iowa) def. Sofia Ayala (Missouir) 6-0, 6-4
6. Alexis Dorr (Iowa) def. Maureen Modesto (Missouri) 6-2, 6-4

 
Doubles
1. Molnar/Beelen (Iowa) def. Ritchie/Weber (Missouri) 8-4
2. Klockenga/Young (Iowa) def. Ayala/Mera (Missouri) 8-4
3. Lewis/Bleakley (Missouri) def. Poggensee-Wei/Dorr (Iowa) 8-6