Jan. 19, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou tennis team opens its 2014 spring season with a home doubleheader on Monday, Jan. 20 at the Green Tennis Center. The Tigers open the year with a dual against Saint Louis at 11 a.m., followed by a 5 p.m. dual against SIUE. Admission to both matches is free.

In 2013 under Head Coach Sasha Schmid, Missouri went 9-13 in its first year in the ever-tough Southeastern Conference. Mizzou defeated four ranked squads during the year, including a 4-3 win over No. 23 Tennessee on March 31. Eleven of the team's 13 losses came to ranked teams, including four to top-10 squads and six to programs ranked in the top-25.

The 2014 Tigers enter the spring season ranked No. 63 in the national rankings, marking the second year in a row the squad was ranked in the spring preseason polls. Additionally, sophomore Kelli Hine clocks in at No. 83 in the ITA singles rankings.

Hine, a Texas Tech transfer, is one of three newcomers who join five returners from a year ago.

Following Monday's doubleheader, the Tigers travel to Gainesville, Fla., to compete in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Missouri will open with Harvard on Saturday, Jan. 25 and play either host Florida or Louisville on Sunday, Jan. 26.