March 13, 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou tennis team rounds out its six-match homestand with three home matches this weekend at the Mizzou Tennis Complex. The Tigers get started on Friday, March 14 with a 2 p.m. contest against LSU. On Sunday, March 16, Missouri returns to the court to host Arkansas at Noon and Drake at 6 p.m. Admission to all three matches is free.
LAST WEEKEND'S RECAP
The Tigers went 1-2 last weekend in their first home matches in nearly two months. On Friday, Missouri fell to No. 7 Vanderbilt, 7-0, despite two matches that went to third sets.
Mizzou then suffered a tough 4-2 loss to No. 22 Kentucky on Sunday morning. Senior Rachel Stuhlmann and sophomore Kelli Hine each picked up singles wins, while freshman Cassidy Spearman was leading her match but the Wildcats' win suspended play.
Sunday evening, the Tigers dominated Bradley 7-0, as the team won all three doubles matches and swept singles.
SCOUTING LSU LSU enters this weekend with a 7-6 overall record and an 0-4 mark in SEC play. The Tigers' resume includes wins over ranked foes South Florida (4-1 and 4-3), SMU (6-1) and Northwestern State (5-0). In SEC action, LSU has suffered losses to Kentucky (4-1), Vanderbilt (7-0), Alabama (4-0) and Auburn (4-3). Top singles player Joana Vale Costa, ranked No. 69 nationally, paces the team with an 8-3 dual match record, while Abby Owens boasts a 2-1 mark in SEC action.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS The Razorbacks are 5-8 on the year with a 0-4 record in SEC competition. The squad earned two wins over Wichita State earlier in the year (4-2 and 4-3), and has wins over Kansas State, North Texas and SIU. Arkansas' four SEC losses have come at the hands of Vanderbilt (6-1), Kentucky (4-0), Auburn (4-3) and Alabama (4-0). Shannon Hudson leads the way in singles with a 6-5 mark at No. 2 play in dual matches.
SCOUTING DRAKE The Bulldogs own an 8-2 spring record, including wins over Wisconsin (4-3), Nebraska (5-2) and Iowa State (5-2). Maddie Johnson is the reigning Missouri Valley Player of the Week after helping the squad post a win over the Cyclones last weekend.
NEXT UP Mizzou hits the road next weekend to face No. 7 Texas A&M on Sunday, March 23 and No. 26 Rice on Tuesday, March 25.