Missouri
ITA Central Regional
Mizzou Tennis’ Murgett Captures ITA Central Region Championship
10/25/2020 6:08:00 PM | Tennis
Murgett caps 6-0 Mizzou debut with win over Kansas’ Ngounoue in the finals
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Mizzou Tennis junior Bronte Murgett (Holmfirth, Great Britain) captured the ITA Central Regional singles championship on Sunday in Fayetteville, Ark., as she bested Malkia Ngounoue (Kansas), 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (7). The title is the first ITA regional championship in program history.
The title completes an impressive Mizzou debut for Murgett, who entered the tournament as the No. 20 seed and went 6-0 en route to the championship. On the way, Murgett defeated the No. 45-, 13-, 29-, 12-, 9- and 7-seeds to capture the title. Murgett show great resiliency in her semifinals and finals victories, as she dropped the first set in each match before coming back to win the final two sets to earn victories.
SINGLES
In the semifinals, Murgett beat Ayumi Miyamoto (Oklahoma State), 2-6, 7-6 (3), 1-0 (8), before earning the championship with a win over Kansas' Ngounoue. On Saturday, Murgett earned victories over Kianah Motosono (Oklahoma), 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 16 and Vasiliki Karvouni (Kansas), 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.
Also on Saturday, senior Ellie Wright (Gainesville, Fla.) and sophomore Elys Ventura (Aukland, New Zealand) dropped matches in the round of 16.
QUOTABLES
Mizzou Interim Head Coach Chris Wootton
"This truly is the beginning of the next generation of Mizzou Women's Tennis. Bronte Murgett has created history by winning the ITA Central Regional and becoming the best player in the Central Region! I am overwhelmed with joy and give the credit to this team's ability to focus as one unit and pull her through multiple tiebreakers for the win."
UP NEXT
Next, Mizzou is scheduled to face Central Arkansas in a doubleheader on Friday, Oct. 30. Play is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. CT and 1:00 p.m. CT.
For all the latest on Mizzou Tennis, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
SINGLES RESULTS
Round of 16:
Ayumi Miyamoto (Oklahoma State) def. Ellie Wright (Mizzou): 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 (8)
Bronte Murgett (Mizzou) def. Kianah Motosono (Oklahoma): 6-4, 6-2
Indianna Spink (Arkansas) def. Elys Ventura (Mizzou): 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8)
Quarterfinals:
Bronte Murgett (Mizzou) def. Vasiliki Karvouni (Kansas): 6-3, 6-2
Semifinals:
Bronte Murgett (Mizzou) def. Ayumi Miyamoto (Oklahoma State): 2-6, 7-6 (3), 1-0 (8)
Finals:
Bronte Murgett (Mizzou) def. Malkia Ngounoue (Kansas): 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (7)
Consolation:
Matilde Magrini (North Texas) def. Olga Bienzobas Fernandez (Mizzou): 7-5, 7-5
Rom Cardenas Rifka (Mizzou) def. Alyson Piskulic (Missouri State): 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (3)
Claire Slaughter (Arkansas) defeated Valentina Vazquez Pongruber (Mizzou): 0-6, 6-4, 1-0 (8)
Pascual Montalvo (TCU) defeated Rom Cardenas Rifka (Mizzou): 6-0, 5-7, 1-0 (4)
Bonus Matches:
Chunxi Xin (Central Arkansas) defeated Olga Bienzobas Fernandez (Mizzou): 6-1, 7-5
DOUBLES RESULTS
Round of 16:
Alana Wolfberg / Dariya Detkovskaya (Oklahoma State) def. Rom Cardenas Rifka / Valentina Vazquez Pongruber (Mizzou): 6-1
Martina Zerulo / Tatum Rice (Arkansas) def. Ellie Wright / Bronte Murgett (Mizzou): 6-2
Players Mentioned
