University of Missouri
Minnesota
@MizzouTennis Comes Back For 4-3 Win Over Minnesota
2/16/2018 10:23:00 PM | Tennis
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Mizzou Tennis team fought back from a 3-2 deficit to register a thrilling 4-3 win over Minnesota on Friday night. A dual that started nearly 5-1/2 hours earlier concluded when senior co-captain Clare Raley (Atlanta, Ga.) registered a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win over the Golden Gophers' River Hart in the only match left on the Mizzou Tennis Complex courts.
Mizzou (9-1) continued its success in doubles, winning the opening point of the match for the 10th time in as many chances this Spring. The Tigers needed a comeback to do so this time, however. After a 6-0 loss at No. 1, Mizzou evened the point at a match apiece when sophomore Mackenzy Middlebrooks (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and freshman Ellie Wright (Gainesville, Fla.) teamed up for a 6-4 win at No. 3. Senior co-captain Amina Ismail (Maineville, Ohio) and freshman Marta Oliveira (Lisbon, Portugal) then held on for a 7-5 win at No. 2 to win the doubles point.
Minnesota (7-2) tied it up with a win at No. 1 singles, but Middlebrooks posted her 13th consecutive singles win of the season with a 6-3, 7-5 triumph at No. 4. The Gophers completed their sweep of the top three singles matches with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 to take a 3-2 advantage, but Mizzou's senior co-captains came through. Ismail notched a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 win over Caitlyn Merzbacher at No. 5 to tie things up before Raley's clincher.
"It was a great effort from everyone tonight," said Head Coach Colt Gaston. "The belief in each other down the stretch continues to grow, and it showed tonight. Mackenzy is continuing to play some great tennis, and it was special to see the seniors ep up in a big situation. Clare has won some big matches for us before, so it was great to see her and Amina on-court last for the team in their final season. A lot of credit goes to Minnesota; they played well and really fought hard tonight. We look forward to getting back at it on Sunday!"
UP NEXT
Mizzou concludes its second straight weekend at home this Sunday at 1 p.m. vs. Memphis. For all the latest on Mizzou Tennis, stay tuned to mutigers.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
MIZZOU 4, Minnesota 3
DOUBLES (order of finish: 1, 3, 2)
Mehvish Safdar/Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN) def. #49 Clare Raley/Serena Nash (MIZ), 6-0
Amina Ismail/Marta Oliveira (MIZ) def. Annemarie Emme/Tina Kreinis (MINN), 7-5
Mackenzy Middlebrooks/Ellie Wright (MIZ) def. River Hart/Caroline Ryba (MINN), 6-5
SINGLES (order of finish: 1, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6)
Caroline Ryba (MINN) def. Marta Oliveira (MIZ), 6-2, 6-3
Tina Kreinis (MINN) def. Serena Nash (MIZ), 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5)
Annemarie Emme (MINN) def. Ellie Wright (MIZ), 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Mackenzy Middlebrooks (MIZ) def. Barbara Mancera (MINN), 6-3, 7-5
Amina Ismail (MIZ) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN), 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
Clare Raley (MIZ) def. River Hart (MINN), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
Players Mentioned
