No. 68 tennis team faces No. 30 Colorado
March 9, 2007
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranked the Missouri women's tennis team No. 68 in the nation on Tuesday, giving the team its first national ranking since May 2005.
Missouri is 5-3 this season and 1-2 in the Big 12. Recently, the team upset Kansas State and consequently, knocked the Wildcats out of the top 75.
Coach Blake Starkey said he is proud of his players, but he sees the ranking as more of a challenge than an achievement.
"I really want to be higher," he said. "The goal is ultimately to be higher. Whether or not this group deserves that, we'll find out."
The team will have a great opportunity to achieve a higher ranking and prove it is worthy of it when conference rival Colorado visits on Saturday. The Buffaloes are 7-3 this spring and boast a 3-0 conference record, their best conference start in team history. They are also coming off an upset against Baylor, who was ranked No. 14 before the loss.
Although Colorado is on a winning streak, taking four out of its last five, the Tigers have done the same thing in their last five games. They have also played half their matches this season against ranked teams, so they are used to preparing for tough matches.
"Against Colorado, we really have nothing to lose," junior Chrissy Svetlic said. "There's no pressure on us really. We've all been working really hard, and I think we're really excited because it's paying off."
Starkey feels the team definitely has a chance, especially at home, seeing as how the Buffaloes lost the last two games in Columbia.
"We've gotten them twice here, and we're going to try and get them on Saturday," Starkey said. "They're pretty hot right now, and we're going to try and cool them off a little."
Starkey said he is grateful for the small but growing crowd that makes it out for the matches. He said he thinks it helps the players get into the match.
"I think what we've got is a very unique little home thing, and I think it's getting better," he said. "Plus, I think when we're inside, it's loud in there. A few people make it loud."
The match starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Green Tennis Center.
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