Kaitlyn Ritchie returns a ballKaitlyn Ritchie returns a ball
Tennis

No. 22 Sooners Slid Past No. 74 Missouri

April 2, 2011

Columbia, Mo. – The Tigers faced the No. 22 Sooners Sat., April 2 at Bethel Park. The match commenced with doubles competition. Oklahoma gained an early lead 1-0 by winning the doubles point as No. 66 doubles partners Ana-Maria Constantinescu and Alice Radu of Oklahoma defeated the No. 59 pairing of Mallory Weber and Kaitlyn Ritchie 8-5. Sooners Whitney Ritchie and Mia Lancaster overcame Tigers Marlen Hacke and Jamie Mera at the number two spot (8-4) while Missouri partners Rachel Stuhlmann and Maria Christensen fell 8-6.

Missouri came into the singles contest looking to take back the lead. As Missouri's Ritchie controlled Radu 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 and No. 3 Christensen conquered her opponent 6-3, 6-3 the day still seemed hopeful for the Tigers. Hacke of Missouri also won her match 6-2, 6-3. The Tigers and the Sooners became tied at 3-3 after Weber fell 3-6, 3-6 against No. 102 Constantinescu and the Sooners' Lancaster defeated Mera 6-1, 6-1. The match came down to No. 6 singles. Stuhlmann of Missouri faced Maria Kalashnikova but was overcome 6-3, 6-3 after quite the battle and a few deuces in the last set.

The Missouri Tigers are now 9-7 overall and 1-5 Big 12. The Tigers will continue conference play Sun., April 3 at 1 p.m. against Oklahoma State. Weather pending the match will be at Bethel Park. For more information visit mutigers.com

Doubles:

1. No. 66 Ana-Maria Constantinescu/Alice Radu (OU) def. No. 59 Mallory Weber/Kaitlyn Ritchie (MU), 8-5

2. Whitney Ritchie/Mia Lancaster (OU) def. Marlen Hacke/Jamie Mera (MU), 8-4

3. Tara Eckel/Marie-Pier Huet (OU) def. Rachel Stuhlmann/Maria Christensen (MU), 8-6

*Oklahoma won the doubles point

Singles:

1. No. 102 Ana-Maria Constantinuescu (OU) def. Mallory Weber (MU), (6-3, 6-3)

2. Kaitlyn Ritchie (MU) def. Alice Radu (OU), (6-3, 6-4)

3. Maria Christensen (MU) def. Whitney Ritchie (OU), (6-3, 6-3)

4. Marlen Hacke (MU) def. Marie-Pier Huet (OU), (6-2, 6-3)

5. Mia Lancaster (OU) def. Jamie Mera (MU), (6-1, 6-1)

6. Maria Kalashnikova (OU) def. Rachel Stuhlmann (MU), (6-3, 6-3)