University of Missouri
Texas A&M
Tigers Drop Heartbreaker to No. 36 Aggies
4/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 25, 2010
Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri women's tennis team built a 3-1 lead, holding team match point through three matches, only to see the Aggies storm back and escape with a 4-3 win in both teams' regular season finale.
The Tigers kicked off Senior Day, honoring Missouri seniors Sofia Ayala and Kristen Bleakley, with two wins and the doubles point. Kansas City native Bleakley and freshman partner Andrea Lewis earned an 8-5 win over Christi Liles and Sheri Olivier at No. 3 doubles. With Ayala and sophomore Jamie Mera dropping their match at No.2, the Tigers placed the point in the hands of the No. 1 duo juniors Mallory Weber and Kaitlyn Ritchie. Taking the match to a tiebreaker, the Tigers prevailed over Elze' Potgieter and Lauren Satacroce, 9-8 (4).
Weber got things started in singles, cruising to a 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. 122 Morgan Frank at No. 2. Tampa, Fla. native Mera fell to A&M's Sheri Olivier at No. 3, 7-6 (4), 6-2, putting the Aggies on the board at 2-1.
Freshman Maria Christensen took a three-set win over Santacroce at No. 4. After going down in the first set, 4-6, she triumphed taking the next two sets 6-3, 6-3, to earn her first conference win of the season.
With the match score 3-1 and three matches remaining on the court, the Tigers sought just one more win in an effort to earn their second conference win of the season. After claiming a victory over a top-25 ranked opponent Friday, junior Ritchie faced No. 59 Potgieter, taking the first set 7-5. In a valiant effort, Ritchie earned a 4-2 lead in the second set before falling 5-7, and 2-6 in the third set.
Bleakley was defeated at No. 6 by Stephanie Davidson, 7-5, 6-2.
With the match evened at 3-3, the stage was set for a showdown at No. 5 singles, where Andrea Lewis had taken the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (3). The Aggies' Christi Liles took the second set 6-3. With all eyes on the courts, the freshman attempted to clinch the match for her team, a position she is familiar with. Dropping the first two games, Lewis powered back to tie the set at 2-2. Liles then took control of the match, capturing the third set 6-3, and claiming the match for the Aggies.
"I could not be more proud of my team today," said Head coach Blake Starkey. "They fought in a first class manner. You learn a lot about people when you get them on the ropes. We put ourselves in a position to win that match, it just didn't happen. They were fortunate to win."
The Tigers will return to the court next weekend as they travel to Austin, Texas for the Big 12 Tennis Championships which runs April 29-May 2, at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center. Stay tuned to mutigers.com through the week for the latest on seeding and pairings for the Championships.
No. 36 Texas A&M 4, Missouri 3
Green Tennis Center, Columbia, Mo.
April 25, 2010
Doubles:
1. Kaitlyn Ritchie/Mallory Weber (MU) def. Elze' Potgieter/Lauren Satacroce (TAMU) 9-8 (4)
2. Morgan Frank/Stephanie Davidson (TAMU) def. Sofia Ayala/Jamie Mera (MU) 9-7
3. Kristen Bleakley/Andrea Lewis (MU) def. Christi Liles/Sheri Oliver (TAMU) 8-5
Order of finish: 2, 3, *1
Singles:
1. No. 59 Elze' Potgieter (TAMU) def. Kaitlyn Ritchie (MU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
2. Mallory Weber (MU) def. No. 122 Morgan Frank (TAMU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Sheri Olivier (TAMU) def. Jamie Mera (MU) 7-6 (4), 6-2
4. Maria Christensen (MU) def. Lauren Santacroce (TAMU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
5. Christi Liles (TAMU) def. Andrea Lewis (MU) 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3
6. Stephanie Davidson (TAMU) def. Kristen Bleakley (MU) 7-5, 6-2
Order of finish: 2, 3, 4, 1, 6, *5
Players Mentioned
