University of Missouri
Tennessee
@MizzouTennis Completes Comeback, Defeats Tennessee, 4-3
3/31/2016 6:15:00 PM | Tennis
Mizzou reaches 15 wins for the first time since 2004-05
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 71 Mizzou Tennis (15-7, 2-6 SEC) rallied to win the last three singles matches of the day to defeat No. 63 Tennessee (8-11, 1-7 SEC), 4-3, on Thursday in Knoxville, Tenn. After falling behind, 3-1, Mizzou picked up wins from junior Cassidy Spearman (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), sophomore Clare Raley (Atlanta, Ga.), and junior Bea Machado Santos (Lisbon, Portugal) in singles play to secure the comeback. Santos (ranked No. 72 in singles) clinched the match for the Tigers, defeating No. 42 ranked Sadie Hammond, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1.
The win marks the first time since the 2004-05 season Mizzou has posted 15 wins and is tied for the fourth most wins all-time in program history. Santos defeated her third ranked opponent this season with the win over Hammond, improving to 3-4 against ranked opponents.
Mizzou fell behind early, surrendering the doubles points following Tennessee wins at the No. 1 and 3 positions. All three matches were tightly contest, as Tennessee won 7-5 on court one and three, while the score on court two was 6-5 when play was stopped.
Tennessee picked up wins at the No. 2 and 4 positions early in singles play to gain a 3-1 lead. Mizzou first got on the scoreboard following a 6-4, 7-5, win at the No. 3 position from sophomore Brianna Lashway (Bradenton, Fla.). Lashway improved to 7-4 at the No. 3 position in spring play with the victory.
The final three matches, which Mizzou need to win each match to ensure the victory, all went to the decisive third set. After dropping the first set, Raley fought back to take the last two sets, defeating Ashley Bongart, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 6 position. Spearman won set one, 6-4, before dropping the second set, 5-7, to Tiffany Tavares at the No. 5 position. Spearman was not to be outdone in the third set, winning, 6-4, leaving the match to be decided by the winner at the No. 1 position.
In a battle between two ranked competitors, Santos took the first set, 6-4, before Hammond took the second set following a tiebreaker, 6-7 (3-7). Santos decided against a nail-biting third set, dominating Hammond, 6-1, in the final set to take the match and clinch the victory for Mizzou.
Mizzou will next visit No. 4 Georgia on Saturday in the final road match of the regular season for the Tigers. The match is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT and will be streamed on georgiadogs.com.
For all the latest on Mizzou Tennis, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook (MizzouTennis), Twitter (@MizzouTennis) and Instagram (@Mizzou_Tennis).
Mizzou 4, Tennessee 3
Doubles
1. #75 Sadie Hammond / Eve Repic (Tennessee) def. #73 Bea Machado Santos / Brianna Lashway (Mizzou): 7-5
2. Kelli Hine / Clare Raley (Mizzou) vs. Kim Kermit / Brittany Lindl (Tennessee): unfinished
3. Tiffany Tavares / Margo Taylor (Tennessee) def. Brittany Lashway / Cassidy Spearman (Mizzou): 7-5
Singles
1. #72 Bea Machado Santos (Mizzou) def. #42 Sadie Hammond (Tennessee): 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1
2. Eve Repic (Tennessee) def. Kelli Hine (Mizzou): 6-1, 7-5
3. Brianna Lashway (Mizzou) def. Kim Kermet (Tennessee): 6-4, 7-5
4. Brittany Lindl (Tennessee) def. Brittany Lashway (Mizzou): 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Cassidy Spearman (Mizzou) def. Tiffany Tavares (Tennessee): 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
6. Clare Raley (Mizzou) def. Ashley Bongart (Tennessee): 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Players Mentioned
