University of Missouri
Iowa State
Iowa State Edges Missouri, 4-3
3/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
March 13, 2010
Ames, Iowa- The Missouri tennis team (3-7, 0-1 Big 12) dropped their conference opener to Iowa State, 4-3, in a six-and-a-half hour marathon that went down to the wire.
“First off, I want to congratulate a vastly improved Iowa State team, who played a very good match tonight. This was a great college match where neither team deserved to lose. But, seeing as it was unfortunately us, I have to be the first to tip my hat to Armondo and Chris who are both doing a great job with this Iowa State team."
Missouri opened up play strong, taking two out of three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. Senior Kristen Bleakley and freshman Maria Christensen took an 8-5 win over Iowa State's Alyssa Palen and Liza Wischer at No. 3, before senior Sofia Ayala and sophomore Jamie Mera dropped an 8-4 match at No. 2 doubles. In the deciding doubles match, juniors Kaitlyn Ritchie and Mallory Weber prevailed, taking a 9-7 come-from-behind win over the Cyclones' Erin Karonis and Jenna Langhorst.
“I could not ask for anything more from Katilyn [Ritchie] and Mallory [Weber]. Both of them have been playing great in both singles and doubles, and really coming through for their team, and I am really proud of them,” said Head Coach Blake Starkey.
Missouri took just two singles' victories on the afternoon, with wins coming at No. 1 and No. 3, to take a 3-1 advantage. Junior Ritchie saw her first start at No. 1 singles, and made the most of it earning a 6-2, 6-2 victory over 2009 Big 12 All-Conference Team member, Erin Karonis. Junior Mallory Weber defeated Iowa State's Tessa Lang in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
With the Cyclones taking tight wins at No. 2, 4, and 5 singles, the match was tied and came down to the number 6 position. Freshman Andrea Lewis dropped the first set, 6-1, and was down 3-1 in the second. She made a few adjustments and really began striking the ball and stormed back to take the second set 7-5 to force a winner take all third set. The Tiger victory appeared to be in hand as Lewis then cruised through the third, garnering a 5-2 lead over Cyclones' Liza Wischer, and quieting the Iowa State crowd in the process. In the eighth game, with a 5-2, 30-0 lead, Lewis began to experience cramps. The Tigers were forced to call for an injury time-out as Lewis continued to cramp primarily in her racket hand and her left foot.
“It was possibly the most unlikely end to a college match I have ever experienced. She struggled holding her racket, and didn't move the same from that point on. She's a brave kid and gave it all she had but her level of play just went away. Just really unfortunate timing at that point of the match under those circumstances,” said Starkey.
Lewis returned, but struggled to put balls in the court the rest of the way. The Iowa State crowd kicked in as Wischer was able to collect point after point to finally take the third set, 7-5, and clinch the match for the Cyclones.
“I have never seen a match end in the fashion this one did tonight,” said Starkey. “We put ourselves in position and appeared we had it. I generally believe you create your own luck, but in this case, I can only say we were a bit unlucky. Andrea was obviously crushed with the outcome given she was so firmly in control. But there were three other points surrendered before she was in that position, and a couple of our other players could have taken all the pressure off by performing better. It takes four points to win a college match, and we surrendered four points. While it was an unfortunate end for us, I don't want to take away anything from Iowa State's win tonight, and I congratulate what I know was a big win for them. At the end there, someone was going to be a hero, and tonight it was Liza. Andrea is a tough kid and will get her time. But tonight, you have to congratulate Liza and Iowa State.”
Doubles
1. Kaitlyn Ritchie/Mallory Weber (MU) def. Erin Karonis /Jenna Langhorst (ISU) 9-7
2. Maria Macedo/Tessa Lang (ISU) def. Sofia Ayala/Jamie Mera (MU) 8-4
3. Kristen Bleakley/Maria Christensen (MU) def. Alyssa Palen/Liza Wischer (ISU) 8-5
Singles
No. 1 Kaitlyn Ritchie (MU) def. Erin Karonis (ISU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 Maria Macedo (ISU) def. Jamie Mera (MU) 6-1, 6-4
No. 3 Mallory Weber (MU) def. Tessa Lang (ISU) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
No. 4 Jenna Langhorst (ISU) def. Maria Christensen (MU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
No. 5 Marie-Christine Chartier (ISU) def. Sofia Ayala (MU) 6-4, 7-6 (16-14)
No. 6 Liza Wischer (ISU) def. Andrea Lewis (MU) 6-2, 5-7, 7-5
Players Mentioned
