March 25, 2014
HOUSTON - Senior Cierra Gaytan-Leach notched second win over a ranked singles opponent in Mizzou's 6-1 loss at No. 23 Rice Tuesday afternoon in Houston. The Tigers fell to 6-15 on the season with the loss, while the Owls improved to 10-5.
Playing at No. 1 singles, Gaytan-Leach closed out the match with a victory over No. 60 Natalie Beazant. Gaytan-Leach took the first set, 6-3, while Beazant won set two, 6-4, setting up a third-set tiebreak. Gaytan-Leach emerged victorious in the tiebreak, 10-8, to record the 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 win, marking her second win over a ranked foe in the spring. The senior also defeated LSU's Joana Vale Costa, who entered the match ranked No. 69 nationally.
Rice took a 1-0 advantage after taking the doubles point. The Owls started the match with a win at No. 3 doubles, as Katherine Ip and Solomiya Zinko posted an 8-3 win over sophomore Kelli Hine and freshman Tracy Dong. A victory for the no. 67 team of Beazant and Liat Zimmerman over Gaytan-Leach and senior Rachel Stuhlmann, 8-3, at No. 1 doubles, secured the point for Rice. The Owls also won at No. 2 action, where Dominique Harmath and Alison Ho defeated sophomore Madison Rhyner and freshman Cassidy Spearman, 8-6.
The Owls posted wins at No. 6, 2 and 3 singles to secure the team victory. At No. 6 singles, Alison Ho bested Dong, 6-1, 6-2, while Tiger Kelli Hine fell to No. 110 Dominique Harmath, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 2 play. No. 85 Ip clinched Rice's win at No. 3 singles as she was victorious over Stuhlmann, 6-2, 6-2.
Rice also took matches at No. 4 and 5 singles. Zimmerman notched a 6-3, 6-2 win over Rhyner at No. 4 action, while Kimberly Anicete defeated Spearman, 7-6, 6-4, at No. 5 singles.
Missouri continues with Southeastern Conference play with matches against Tennessee and No. 9 Georgia. The Tigers face Tennessee on Friday, March 28 at 4 p.m. ET, followed by a 1 p.m. ET contest against Georgia on Sunday, March 30. The match against the Bulldogs on Sunday is part of UTSA College Matchday and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com.
Rice 6, Mizzou 1
Singles:
1. Cierra Gaytan-Leach (MU) def. #60 Natalie Beazant (Rice) 6-3, 4-6, 10-8
2. #100 Dominique Harmath (Rice) def. Kelli Hine (MU) 6-4, 6-1
3. #85 Katherine Ip (Rice) def. Rachel Stuhlmann (MU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Liat Zimmerman (Rice) def. Madison Rhyner (MU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Kimberly Anicete (Rice) def. Cassidy Spearman (MU) 7-6, 6-4
6. Alison Ho (Rice) def. Tracy Dong (MU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles:
1. #67 Natalie Beazant/Liat Zimmermann (Rice) def. Cierra Gaytan-Leach/Rachel Stuhlmann (MU) 8-3
2. Dominique Harmath/Alison Ho (Rice) def. Madison Rhyner/Cassidy Spearman (MU) 8-6
3. Katherine Ip/Solomiya Zinko (Rice) def. Kelli Hine/Tracy Dong (MU) 8-3
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1)