COLUMBIA, Mo. – For the fourth consecutive year, Mizzou Tennis will launch its fall campaign by hosting the Mizzou Invite at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The 3-day weekend will take place Friday, Sept. 18-Sunday, Sept. 20, and admission is free throughout the weekend. The 2015 Mizzou Invite will feature four power-five programs as Louisville, Nebraska and Penn State join the Tigers in Kansas City.
"We're excited to continue hosting the event in Kansas City, where there's such incredible support from Mizzou alumni and fans," head coach Sasha Schmid said. "This year, we're welcoming three fantastic programs with winning traditions, which can only make us better as we improve and prepare for the spring season."
The Mizzou Invite will not have a dual format, but rather give individual singles players and doubles tandems a chance to face opponents from each school throughout the 3-day weekend. Last season, the Tigers won a combined 22 of 33 matches at the Mizzou Invite. Juniors Bea Machado Santos and Cassidy Spearman both won singles titles and senior Kelli Hine, sophomore Brianna Lashway and junior Brittany Lashway each secured doubles titles.
The Tigers return seven student-athletes with plenty of match experience from last season's team, including five who earned top recognition at the 2014 Mizzou Invite. It will be the first collegiate action for incoming freshman Turner Yates. Yates, a Jackson, Mississippi, native was named the 2015 Mississippi Tennis Association Player of the Year and adds talent and youth to a seasoned Mizzou squad.
A full schedule for this season's Mizzou Invite can be found below. For all the latest on Mizzou Tennis, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MizzouTennis and Instagram @Mizzou_Tennis.
MIZZOU INVITE SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 18
Doubles: Mizzou vs. Penn State; Nebraska vs. Louisville – 9 a.m.
Doubles: Mizzou vs. Louisville; Nebraska vs. Penn State – 10 a.m.
Singles: Mizzou vs. Nebraska; Penn State vs. Louisville – 1 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19
Doubles: Mizzou vs. Louisville; Penn State vs. Nebraska – 9 a.m.
Doubles: Mizzou vs. Nebraska; Louisville vs. Penn State – 10 a.m.
Singles: Mizzou vs. Penn State; Nebraska vs. Louisville – 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 20
Doubles: Mizzou vs. Penn State; Louisville vs. Nebraska – 9 a.m.
Singles: Mizzou vs. Louisville; Nebraska vs. Penn State – 10 a.m.