University of Missouri
Memphis
Middlebrooks Clinches @MizzouTennis Win With Three-Set Singles Victory
2/15/2019 9:48:00 PM | Tennis
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Junior Mackenzy Middlebrooks (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) fought back from a 5-3 deficit in the final set to win the clinching singles point to propel the Mizzou tennis team to a 4-3 win against Memphis on Friday afternoon in Memphis, Tenn. With the team score knotted at 3-3, Middlebrooks recovered from 5-3 and 6-5 deficits in the third set to earn a 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 win at No. 1 singles.
Missouri improved to 7-1 on the season with the win, which was the team's fourth victory in a row.
SINGLES
After dropping the first set, Middlebrooks came back to take the second to send the No. 1 singles match to a decisive third set. Memphis' Alisha Reayer built a 5-3 advantage in the third but Middlebrooks fought back to tie it at 5-5. Reayer went up 6-5 but Middlebrooks claimed the next game and the set tiebreak to clinch Mizzou's team victory. With the win, Middlebrooks improved to 7-1 in the spring, including a 6-1 mark at the No. 1 position.
Freshman Lisa Fukutoku (Tokyo, Japan) got Mizzou started in singles with a victory at No. 3 action, as she downed Aleks Topalovic, 7-5, 7-5, for a 2-1 Mizzou advantage.
After Memphis' Katherine Cao defeated sophomore Taylor Gruber (Spicewood, Texas) at No. 6 competition, a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory from freshman Vivien Ábrahám (Budapest, Hungary) at No. 6 put Mizzou on top 3-1.
Memphis earned wins at No. 2 and 5 singles to tie the score and set up Middlebrooks' dramatics.
DOUBLES
The Tigers roared back to take the doubles point after dropping the first match. Matches at No. 1 and No. 2 action went to tiebreaks, with Mizzou prevailing at both to take the 1-0 advantage. First, Middlebrooks and sophomore Ellie Wright (Gainesville, Fla.) ousted Alisha Reayer and Aleks Topalovic, 7-6, at No. 1 competition. Then juniors Serena Nash (Bradford, England) and Gabrielle Goldin (Bradenton, Fla.) clinched the point as they defeated Cao and Hannah Davies, 7-6, at No. 2 doubles.
QUOTABLES
Mizzou Head Coach Colt Gaston
"It was a hard fought match today against a solid Memphis team. We knew from the very start it was going to be a battle, and I was proud of the grit the team showed to pull out the victory. We definitely learned a lot today as a team. I look forward to another tough battle tomorrow against Minnesota."
UP NEXT
The Tigers face Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. CT at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn.
RESULTS
Mizzou 4, Memphis 3
Doubles
1. Mackenzy Middlebrooks/Ellie Wright (MIZ) def. Alisha Reayer/Alekx Topalovic (MEM), 7-6
2. Gabrielle Goldin/Serena Nash (MIZ) def. Katherine Cao/Hannah Davies (MEM), 7-6
3.Laura Bente/Lina Hohnhold (MEM) def. Marta Oliveira/Vivien Ábrahám (MIZ), 6-4
Order of finish: 3,1,2
Singles
1. Mackenzy Middlebrooks (MIZ) def. Alisha Reayer (MEM), 6-7, 7-4, 7-6
2. Laura Bente (MEM) def. Serena Nash (MIZ), 5-7, 7-5, 6-0
3. Lisa Fukutoku (MIZ) def. Aleks Topalovic (MEM), 7-5, 7-5
4. Hannah Davies (MEM) def. Ellie Wright (MIZ), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Vivien Abraham (MIZ) def. Lina Hohnhold (MEM), 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
6. Katherine Cao (MEM) def. Taylor Gruber (MIZ), 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 3,6,5,4,2,1
Players Mentioned
