Kristen Bleakley

Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Kansas City, Kansas
Prev School:
N.C. State

Outlook: Earned the flight two consolation bracket title at the season opening UNLV Invite. Paired with Andrea Lewis in doubles at Jayhawk Invite to win the A bracket. Won three straight matches at the Jayhawk Invitational to reach the final, where she was narrowly defeated by teammate Andrea Lewis in the finals of the A bracket.

"Kristen is a very good athlete, and you can tell how proud she is to be a Tiger. She's got solid groundstrokes, which sets up a dangerous transition game. She's got very good hands at the net, and obviously knows how to get in and win at the net," Missouri Head Coach Blake Starkey said. "She is gifted in her doubles play, and has a lot of options and different ways to beat you. Her doubles skills are obvious. Kristen has grown so much in her time at Mizzou, and I'm looking for a very good senior season from her."

Kristen Bleakley was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and is the daughter of Jan and Todd Bleakley. She began playing tennis when she was four.

Early on,Bleakley played lots of sports including soccer, basketball, and swimming. In juniors, she was coached by Elliott McDermed in Kansas City. Bleakley played mostly USTA Missouri Valley tournaments and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the Missouri Valley Section. She also played loads of national events. She won two USTA national opens in doubles (Lexington, KY, and El Paso, TX) with partner Kelcie Klockenga.

In high school in Kansas, she played No. 1 for a team that won the 2004 Kansas team title. In 2005, she won the Kansas state title (in singles), and in 2006, she won the Kansas state doubles to give her the trifecta. In USTA, Bleakleywas a ranked as high as No. 2 in doubles, and No. 52 in singles nationally . She qualified and won two rounds at the Wichita WTA $10,000.

Bleakley initially accepted a scholarship and played tennis for the Wolfpack of N.C. State before transferring to the University of Missouri, where the Tigers are happy to gain her services. At NCState, she and partner Katherine Grotz were ranked 55 in the ITA last year.

Off court, Bleakley enjoys hanging out with friends, doing random stuff, and being in or near the ocean.She specifically likes popcorn and broccoli (but not together). Bleakley specifically does not like ghosts, graveyards, or scary movies. Although there are many interesting things about her, Bleakleyconsiders her fascination with weather to be the most interesting thing about her. Although her parents and coach frown onBleakley has access to a timeshare in Playa Del Carmen down in Mexico, and is a fan of all things in Mexico.