MU tennis takes two singles championships

The Tigers hosted their second invitational this fall.

By Matthew Schiffman

Published Oct. 6, 2008

The women's tennis team rolled again at home this weekend, taking two of three singles championships in the inaugural "Ace for a Cure" tournament.

The Tigers hosted Southern Methodist University, Illinois and Louisville in their second invitational at home this fall.

The second time proved to be nearly as successful as the first. Senior Jessica Giuggioli led MU by winning the top singles division over Louisville's Jo-Ann Van Aerde in a grueling three-set match.

Taking the court at 10 a.m. Sunday, Giuggioli dropped the first set 1-6.

"I started off really slow," Giuggioli said.

But she stormed back to take the second set, 6-3. In the third, Giuggioli had to overcome a slew of double faults and a few arguments with the line judge to stay in the match.

"I was really frustrated, but I just tried to keep my head and not let it get to me," Giuggioli said.

Still, she was able to force a tiebreaker. Finally, after 1 p.m., Giuggioli saw a forehand go long from her opponent, giving Giuggioli the match, 7-6 (7-5) in the third.

"It was a really gutsy win," coach Blake Starkey said. "She had to overcome a lot, mentally more than anything else."

Earlier in the day, two of Giuggioli's teammates played for the championships in the second and third singles divisions.

Junior Sofia Ayala lost a close first set, 5-7, and then fell 0-6 in the second to Illinois' Shivani Dave in the second singles division. 

In the third singles division, sophomore Maureen Modesto had more luck, defeating Illinois' Christine Stromberg, 6-4, 6-1.

Modesto said she felt vindicated after a poor showing last week in Las Vegas at the UNLV Invitational.

"Last week I played really nervous and really tentative, and this weekend I played extremely brave and confident and it was just a totally different game," Modesto said.

Modesto also won the final in the consolation of the third doubles division.  She teamed up with Sarah Acosta of SMU for an 8-5 win over Louisville's team of Gabrielle Duncan and Amelia Harris.

MU won the main draw in that doubles division, as well, with Ayala and Kaitlin Dunham beating Illinois' Dave and Annie McCarthy with the same score, 8-5.

In the second doubles division, Giuggioli and Kaitlyn Ritchie beat SMU's Megan Garlich and Casey Kennedy 8-2 in the consolation final.

Of the six divisions, the top doubles section was the only one where the Tigers did not place. Even with the solid results, Starkey said he was concerned with the doubles teams.

"I really would've like to have done better in doubles this weekend," Starkey said.

But the coach said he was happy with his team's performances in singles over the three days, especially considering the tough competition they played.

"I have a lot of respect for the teams we've played," Starkey said. "We've had to fight for everything we've gotten here."

MU will be on the road for the rest of the fall and isn't scheduled to play at home again until late January.