University of Missouri
Texas Tech
Women's Tennis Falls 5-2 to #44 Texas Tech
4/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 18, 2011
Recap written by: Lindsey Jones
No. 44 Texas Tech 5, No. 58 Missouri 2
Columbia, Mo. – The University of Missouri Tigers battled the #44 ranked Texas Tech Raiders on Sun. March 17th at 1 p.m. on the courts of Bethel Park. The Tigers fought to no avail as they lost the doubles point. After a tightly matched first four games at No. 2 doubles, and with the score tied at 2-2, Texas Tech pulled away from Missouri's Kaitlyn Ritchie and Maria Christensen with a finishing score of 8-2. At No. 3 doubles partners Rachel Stuhlmann and Jamie Mera, despite their best efforts, fell to the Raiders 8-3. Last to finish was the No. 1 duo Mallory Weber and Marlen Hacke. After being down a break early in the set, the pair struggled to rally back and were defeated 8-4.
The Tigers dug deep in an effort to fight back in the singles competition against Tech but their efforts fell short. Texas Tech grabbed their first point in singles action when Mallory Weber fell 6-2, 6-2 at the number two spot. Freshman Rachel Stuhlmann finished soon after dropping the number six match 6-1, 6-3. Next off the court was Maria Christensen losing the No. 3 singles position 6-2, 6-4. In the number four spot Caroline Starck of Texas Tech defeated Missouri's Marlen Hacke after a closey fought match 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (3). However, all was not lost. Senior Kaitlyn Ritchie after losing the first set battled back to win the Tigers first match point 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (4) in the third set match breaker played in lieu of the third set. Also, a highlight of the match was junior Jamie Mera's victory over Texas Tech's Haley Fournier at the number five spot. Mera clawed her way to a tightly contested first set win at 7-6 (5), and after dropping the second set 3-6, blew her competition out of the water winning eight points in row to win the third set match breaker 10-3.
Missouri will wrap up regular season play at home on Sat., April 23 versus Big 12 rival Colorado. Join us as Mizzou says farewell to seniors Kaitlyn Ritchie, Mallory Weber and Maureen Modesto! Weather permitting, play will be held at Bethel Park and free pizza will be provided for all fans in attendance at 2 p.m. If play is indoors on Sat., competition will begin at 10 a.m. For more information and updates visit mutigers.com
Doubles:
1. Samantha Adams/Kelsy Garland (TT) def. Mallory Weber/Marlen Hacke (MU), 8-4
2. Caroline Starck/Nikki Sanders (TT) def. Kaitlyn Ritchie/Maria Christensen (MU), 8-2
3. Elizabeth Ullathorne/Haley Fournier (TT) def. Rachel Stuhlmann/Jamie Mera (MU), 8-3
*Texas Tech won the doubles point
Singles:
1. Kaitlyn Ritchie (MU) def. No. 105 Elizabeth Ullathorne (TT), 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (4)
2. Samantha Adams (TT) def. Mallory Weber (MU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Kelsy Garland (TT) def. Maria Christensen (MU), 6-2, 6-4
4. Caroline Starck (TT) def. Marlen Hacke (MU), 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (3)
5. Jamie Mera (MU) def. Haley Fournier (TT), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 1-0 (3)
6. Nikki Sanders (TT) def. Rachel Stuhlmann (MU), 6-1, 6-3
Players Mentioned
