April 30, 2004

Sixth-seeded Missouri took out 11th-seeded Kansas State in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Women's Tennis Championships held at the University of Oklahoma. A 4-2 win over the Wildcats advances the Tigers into the second round against third-seeded Oklahoma.

The Tigers started off strong with an 8-6 doubles win from Urska Juric and Katka Sevcikova. Freshmen Erika Josbena and Yelena Olshanskaya stepped up and won No. 3 doubles 8-2 to clinch the doubles point for Mizzou.

The momentum carried over into the singles matches for the Tiger freshmen. Olshanskaya defeated Wildcat Hayley McIver 7-6 (5), 6-2 at No. 4 and Josbena beat Aveen Alkhatib 6-2, 6-0 at No. 6.

Junior Mary Barry rounded out the Mizzou victory with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Judith Diaz at No. 5. Sevcikova did not finish her match at the No. 2 position because the match had already been decided.

Mizzou faces Oklahoma Friday in the second round of the Big 12 Championships.

Singles

1. Maria Rosenberg (KSU) def. Urska Juric (MU), 6-3, 6-3.

2. Katka Sevcikova (MU) vs. Jessica Simosa (KSU), DNF.

3. Paulina Castillejos (KSU) def. Hana Kraftova (MU), 6-2, 6-3.

4. Yelena Olshanskaya (MU) def. Hayley McIver (KSU), 7-6 (5), 6-2.

5. Mary Barry (MU) def. Judith Diaz (KSU), 6-2, 6-1.

6. Erika Josbena (MU) Aveen Alkhatib (KSU), 6-2, 6-0.

Doubles

1. Juric/Sevcikova (MU) def. Rosenberg/Castillejos (KSU), 8-6.

2. Simosa/Diaz (KSU) def. Barry/Kraftova (MU), 8-6.

3. Josebena/Olshanskaya (MU) def. McIver/Mickelson (KSU), 8-2.