Missouri women’s tennis falls to Texas

By Matt Schiffman
April 8, 2008

The Missouri women’s tennis team didn’t end their home schedule the way they had hoped.

First, the women lost 5-2 on Friday afternoon to the No. 31 Texas A&M Aggies.

Freshman Maureen Modesto and junior Sofia Ayala recorded singles victories at Nos. 4 and 6, but the Tigers fell at every other position, including all three doubles matches.

It was the same story on Saturday morning as Missouri fell to the No. 19-ranked Texas Longhorns 6-1.

Though the score wouldn’t indicate it, MU (9-10, 1-6 Big 12) pushed Texas (12-4, 6-0) in a tough match, winning one singles match and sending three others to three sets.

It was the Longhorns who got off to the quick start, taking all three doubles matches with scores of 8-3 to win the doubles point.

Texas carried that momentum into the first singles match where sophomore Vanja Corovic defeated junior Jessica Giuggioli 6-0, 6-2.

Modesto would quickly answer, recording a 6-4, 6-2 win over Maggie Mello at No. 4 singles.

“She plays a lot bigger than her body,” coach Blake Starkey said of the 5-foot-1-inch freshman.

The Longhorns took back the lead when the No. 5 singles finished next.

After going up 5-3 in the first set, freshman Kaitlyn Ritchie dropped four straight games to lose 7-5. Texas’ Sarah Lancaster won the next set 6-4 to take the match.

The Nos. 2, 3 and 6 were the matches of the day, all of three going the distance.

At No. 2, freshman Mallory Weber won a hard-fought first set 6-4. After going up 6-3 in the tiebreak, she lost the second 7-6 (7).

After the tiebreak, Weber never seemed to return to form.

“She didn’t get it out of her head,” Starkey said.

Eventually Weber dumped a forehand into the net to lose 6-0.

“I was right there,” Weber said after the match. “It was just frustrating.”

At No. 6, Ayala played a similar match. After taking the opening set 6-3, she too lost the second in a tiebreak, 8 points to 6.

The third set was another close call, but in the 10th game Ayala sprayed a forehand long to lose 6-4.

Senior Chrissy Svetlic, playing at No. 3, finished last.

Like her teammates, Svetlic got off to a quick start, winning the first 6-3, but after going up 4-3 in the second, Svetlic dropped three straight games to lose 6-4.

Svetlic fought hard on senior day in front of a large crowd, but eventually fell 6-4 in the third.

“I respect Texas, they’re a really good team,” Svetlic said. “Any girl you play on that team, you’re going to have to fight.”

Missouri pushed the Longhorns in the singles matches, but Texas’ victory on Saturday kept them perfect in the Big 12 at 6-0.

“They did what good teams do, they won the long battles,” Starkey said.

Still, Starkey was pleased with the Tigers’ weekend performance.

“It’s obvious we’re playing smarter,” he said. “I like the direction we’re going.”

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