Missouri
Georgia
@MizzouTennis Splits Doubleheader Against No. 1 Georgia and Western Illinois
4/7/2019 6:42:00 PM | Tennis
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Mizzou tennis team split a doubleheader to conclude the home portion of its schedule, as the Tigers fell to No. 1 Georgia, 4-0, and claimed a 4-0 win over Western Illinois on Sunday afternoon at the Mizzou Tennis Complex.
The Tigers went to 14-12 overall and 0-11 in Southeastern Conference competition with the split. The Bulldogs improved to 19-0 and 11-0, and the Leathernecks fell to 4-9 on the year.
MIZZOU 4, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
Mizzou made quick work of doubles with wins at No. 1 and 2 action to take the early 1-0 advantage over Western Illinois. Junior Mackenzy Middlebrooks (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and sophomore Marta Oliveira (Lisbon, Portugal) downed Mia Melnizki and Anouk Maajong, 6-0, at No. 2 doubles, while sophomore Ellie Wright (Gainesville, Fla.) and freshman Lisa Fukutoku (Tokyo, Japan) defeated Laura Ballesteros and Megan Tagaloa, 6-1, at No. 1.
Oliveira got the Tigers rolling in singles with a 6-0, 6-2 victory against Maajong at No. 4 action. Then Middlebrooks downed Melnizki at No. 1 competition, 6-2, 6-1, before sophomore Taylor Gruber (Spicewood, Texas) closed out the match with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Tagaloa at No. 6 singles.
Junior Serena Nash (Bradford, England), Fukutoku and Abraham all had leads over their Leatherneck opponents but play was halted with Mizzou's team victory.
NO. 1 GEORGIA 4, MIZZOU 0
The Bulldogs earned identical 6-2 wins at No. 1 and 3 doubles to clinch the doubles point. Katarina Jokic and Lourdes Carle defeated Wright and Fukutoku at No. 1 and Meg Kowalski and Marta Gonzalez claimed a victory over juniors Gabrielle Goldin (Bradenton, Fla.) and Nash at No. 3.
Middlebrooks and Oliveira were poised to notch a win over the nation's No. 55 ranked team, Elena Christofi and Vivian Wolff, with a 5-3 edge, but the other two doubles matches concluded before they could close out the match.
Mizzou battled early in the singles but the Bulldogs fought back to post wins at No. 3, 4 and 6 singles for the 4-0 victory. No. 89 Carle earned a 6-3, 6-1 win over Wright at No. 3 action, No. 46 Wolff defeated Fukutoku at No. 4, 6-1, 6-2, and No. 101 Kowalski notched a 6-2, 6-1 win over Abraham at No. 6.
QUOTABLES
Mizzou Head Coach Colt Gaston
"First, I want to thank the fans for coming out today. We had a great crowd and we really appreciate the support. The first match was tough, we knew Georgia was a good team. I thought we did a good job to start off of getting in the match and create some opportunities. But Georgia just played the bigger points better today."
UP NEXT
Missouri concludes the regular season next weekend with a pair of matches in the state of Alabama. On Friday, April 12 the Tigers take on Auburn at 2 p.m. CT, before a 1 p.m. CT match against Alabama on Sunday, April 14 at Alabama.
RESULTS
Mizzou 4, Western Illinois 0
Doubles
1. Ellie Wright/Lisa Fukutoku (MIZ) def. Laura Ballesteros/Megan Tagaloa (WIU), 6-1
2. Marta Oliveira/Mackenzy Middlebrooks (MIZ) def. Mia Melnizki/Anouk Maajong (WIU), 6-0
3. Gabrielle Goldin/Serena Nash (MIZ) vs. Ana Bjelica/Mary Bjelica (WIU), 4-2, unfinished
Order of finish: 2,1
Singles
1. #124 Mackenzy Middlebrooks (MIZ) def. Mia Melnizki (WIU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Serena Nash (MIZ) vs. Ana Bjelica (WIU), 6-3, 4-0, unfinished
3. Lisa Fukutoku (MIZ) vs. Mary Bjelica (WIU), 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
4. Marta Oliveira (MIZ) def. Anouk Maajong (WIU), 6-0, 6-2
5. Vivien Abraham (MIZ) vs. Laura Ballesteros (WIU), 6-1, 5-2
6. Taylor Gruber (MIZ) def. Megan Tagaloa (WIU), 6-4, 6-0
Order of finish: 4,1,6
Georgia 4, Mizzou 0
Doubles
1. Katarina Jokic/Lourdes Carle (UGA) def. Ellie Wright/Lisa Fukutoku (MIZ), 6-2
2. Marta Oliveira/Mackenzy Middlebrooks (MIZ) vs. #55 Elena Christofi/Vivian Wolff (UGA), 5-3, unfinished
3. Meg Kowalski/Marta Gonzalez (UGA) def. Gabrielle Goldin/Serena Nash (MIZ), 6-2
Order of finish: 1,3
Singles
1. #1 Katarina Jokic (UGA) vs. #124 Mackenzy Middlebrooks (MIZ), 6-4, 1-2, unfinished
2. #24 Marta Gonzalez (UGA) vs. Serena Nash (MIZ), 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
3. #89 Lourdes Carle (UGA) def. Ellie Wright (MIZ), 6-3, 6-1
4. #46 Vivian Wolff (UGA) def. Lisa Fukutoku (MIZ), 6-1, 6-2
5. Elena Christofi (UGA) vs. Marta Oliveira (MIZ), 6-2, 5-3, unfinished
6. #101 Meg Kowalski (UGA) def. Vivien Abraham (MIZ), 6-2, 6-1
Order of finish: 3,4,
Players Mentioned
