March 2, 2014
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Mizzou tennis team fell to the No. 5 Florida Gators, 7-0, on Sunday afternoon in Gainesville, Fla. Missouri fell to 4-8 overall and 0-2 in Southeastern Conference play with the loss, while the Gators improved to 10-2 and 2-0.
Florida claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 play. The Gators started the day with an 8-2 win by Olivia Janowicz and Stefani Stojic over Mizzou freshmen Cassidy Spearman and Tracy Dong at No. 3. The home team then clinched the point after Alexandra Cercone and Brianna Morgan defeated sophomores Kelli Hine and Madison Rhyner, 8-1, at No. 2. Mizzou seniors Cierra Gaytan-Leach and Rachel Stuhlmann were in the midst of a tight 5-4 match against Florida's No. 20 doubles tandem of Sofie Oyen and Belinda Woolcock but play was suspended after action at No. 2 doubles concluded.
The Gators took a 2-0 advantage when Morgan, ranked No. 24 in the nation, defeated Hine, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 singles. Stuhlmann then suffered a 6-1, 6-1 loss to No. 27 Cercone at No. 3 play. Florida clinched the dual victory after Stojic beat Dong, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 6 singles.
Gaytan-Leach battled Janowicz, the nation's No. 7 singles player, but fell 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 action. Florida also took wins at No. 5 and No. 4 action to close out the match. Woolcock defeated Spearman, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 5, while Oyen posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over Rhyner at No. 6 singles.
Following almost two months on the road, the Tigers return home for three matches this weekend. The squad opens on Friday, March 7 against No. 8 Vanderbilt at 5 p.m. Missouri then hosts No. 31 Kentucky at 10 a.m. and Bradley at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 9.
Florida 7, Mizzou 0
Singles:
1. No. 7 Olivia Janowicz (UF) def. Cierra Gaytan-Leach (MU) 6-2, 6-2
2. No. 24 Brianna Morgan (UF) def. Kelli Hine (MU) 6-1, 6-0
3. No. 27 Alexandra Cercone (UF) def. Rachel Stuhlmann (MU) 6-1, 6-1
4. No. 34 Sofie Oyen (UF) def. Madison Rhyner (MU) 6-2, 6-1
5. No. 76 Belinda Woolcock (UF) def. Cassidy Spearman (MU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Stefani Stojic (UF) def. Tracy Dong (MU) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles:
1. No. 20 Sofie Oyen / Belinda Woolcock (UF) vs. Cierra Gaytan-Leach / Rachel Stuhlmann (MU) 5-4 unfinished
2. Alexandra Cercone / Brianna Morgan (UF) def. Kelli Hine / Madison Rhyner (MU) 8-1
3. Olivia Janowicz / Stefani Stojic (UF) def. Tracy Dong / Cassidy Spearman (MU) 8-2