Tigers Tangle With The Boilermakers

Friday, January 23

West Lafayette, Ind.

1:00 PM

University of Missouri

Purdue

1/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Tennis

Jan. 23, 2009

West Lafayette, IN. – The lady Tigers (0-1) opened their spring dual season Friday (Jan. 23) in West Lafayette, IN. where they paired up with the Boilermakers from Purdue (1-1). Friday's match is the first of two duals for Mizzou scheduled against strong Big Ten competition. The match began at 2:08 p.m. EST inside the Schwartz Tennis Center where the Boilermakers earned their first victory of the season, 4-3

At No. 3 Sofia Ayala and newcomer Danielle Day went back and forth with Anna Dushkina and co-captain Tatiana Ganzha before claiming an 8-6 victory over the pair. With the matches tied the doubles point came down to the match-up at No. 1. The match went back and forth before Michelle Sammons and Stephanie Wooten narrowly earned a 9-7 victory over Mallory Weber and Jamie Mera to give the Boilermakers the doubles point.

The Tigers needed four singles wins to edge Purdue and put themselves in position to do so. Day was the first off the courts as she dominated Remi Martin 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 5 position. Weber also earned a singles victory in two sets taking care of junior Sammons at the No. 2 spot, 6-2, 7-5.

With the meet score tied at two, the Tigers extended the three remaining singles contests to third sets. Ritchie was defeated in the third set by Ganzha, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, and Ayala was defeated by Dushkina, 6-2, 4-6, 6-0. In the best match of the day, Mera defeated Jennifer Rabot, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

“We put ourselves in position and had them on the ropes,” said coach Blake Starkey. “The girls played some quality tennis on every court. A few balls went their (Purdue's) way. A couple of our players just needed to finish with a little more intensity. There were two good teams out there today, but today was Purdue's day, so credit them.”

The lady Tigers will be back in action Saturday (Jan. 24) in Columbus, Ohio, where they will face the Ohio State Buckeyes who are currently ranked No. 30 in the nation. Match play will begin at 12:00 p.m. EST.