University of Missouri
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Kansas
Missouri Takes Down Jayhawks, 4-3
4/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 9, 2010
Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri women's tennis team bounced back from a conference loss to Colorado to take down border rival Kansas 4-3 Friday evening at the Green Tennis Center, in their first home conference match of the season. This marks the team's fifth consecutive win over the Jayhawks, and eighth win of the past nine meetings.
"I cannot say thank you enough to tonight's crowd," said Head Coach Blake Starkey, "They showed up big for us tonight."
Missouri (6-11, 1-5 Big 12) jumped out to an early advantage, sweeping the Jayhawks to earn the doubles point. Missouri won the first match completed at No. 1, where juniors Kaitlyn Ritchie and Mallory Weber earned an 8-3 win over Ekaterina Morozova and Erin Wilbert. Prior to this weekend's conference matches, Morozova and Wilbert stood in second place in conference play at No. 1 doubles, boasting a 3-2 record. The Tigers clinched the point when Kansas City native Kristen Bleakley and freshman Andrea Lewis defeated Victoria Khanevskaya and Alessandra Dzuba 8-4 at No. 3. Senior Sofia Ayala and sophomore Jamie Mera completed the sweep by defeating Kunigunda Dorn and Sara Lazarevic 8-6 at No. 2.
"From the very beginning we were all business in the doubles. This was some of the best doubles that we've played," said Starkey.
Missouri extended its lead as the match moved to singles. Weber improved to 11-6 on the season, carrying a 4-2 record in conference with a win 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Lazarevic at No. 2. Mera then halted a three-match losing streak, earning her first conference win of the season, with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Maria Martinez at No. 3.
Kansas was able to battle back within one point by taking the next two contests. The Jayhawks got on the board at No. 4, where Dorn won 6-2, 6-3 over Christensen. Ritchie took the first set over Morozova 6-2, before dropping the second 5-7. In a third set battle, Ritchie fell 3-6 at No. 1.
Up 4-3 with just two matches remaining, Lewis came through for the Tigers taking a 7-5, 6-1 win over Wilbert and clinching the match for Missouri.
"I was so happy for Andrea to have that moment," said Starkey.
With the win, Lewis improves her conference record to 3-3 in her first collegiate season, and 8-7 overall.
In the last match of the evening, senior Sofia Ayala was defeated by Khanevskaya, 7-5, 5-7, 10-6.
" I have to give Kansas credit, they fought so hard all the way until the end."
Missouri returns to action Sunday against Kansas State. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m. at the Green Tennis Center.
Missouri 4, Kansas 3
April 9, 2010
Green Tennis Center Columbia, Mo.
Singles
1. Ekaterina Morozova (KU) def. Kaitlyn Ritchie (MU): 2-6, 7-5, 3-6
2. Mallory Weber (MU) def. Sara Lazarevic (KU): 6-3, 6-2
3. Jamie Mera (MU) def. Maria Martinez (KU): 6-3, 6-4
4. Kunigunda Dorn (KU) def. Maria Christensen (MU): 6-2, 6-3
5. Andrea Lewis (MU) def. Erin Wilbert (KU): 7-5, 6-1
6. Victoria Khanevskaya (KU) def. Sofia Ayala (MU): 7-5, 5-7, 10-6
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 4, 1, *5, 6
Doubles
1. Kaitlyn Ritchie/Mallory Weber (MU) def. Morozova/Wilbert (KU): 8-3
2. Sofia Ayala/Jamie Mera (MU) def. Dorn/Lazarevic (KU): 8-6
3. Kristen Bleakley/Andrea Lewis (MU) def. Khanevskaya/Dzuba (KU): 8-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Players Mentioned
