Colorado
Missouri
No. 53 Tennis Escapes Mizzou, 4-3
April 12, 2009 | Tennis
COLUMBIA, Mo. ? The University of Colorado tennis team broke a two-match losing streak and defeated the University of Missouri, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at the Mizzou Tennis Courts.
The Buffaloes, ranked No. 53 nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) have now defeated the Tigers for the fourth straight time and 24 of the last 26 meetings. CU improves to 10-7 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 Conference, while the Tigers have lost five straight falling to 7-10 and 3-6 in the Big 12.
CU's 6-2 start after eight conference matches the 2006-07 season.
The Buffs won the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 singles slots, then secured the key doubles point taking two of three matches.
At No. 1 doubles, Camila Belassi and Melisa Esposito defeated Weber/Mera, 8-3, and at No. 2, the team of Ania Anuszkiewicz and Franziska Jendrian edged Giuggioli/Ritchie for a 9-8(5) win. The Belassi/Esposito tandem have won five of six matches at the No. 1 position, while Anuszkiewicz and Jendrian have won five of seven at No. 2.
In singles, CU dominated the top three positions led by Belassi, Esposito, and Abbie Probert.
Esposito pushed CU ahead 2-0 with her personal best 21st singles win of the year taking a straight set winner over Jessica Giuggioli, 6-3, 6-2. It was Esposito's sixth win in her last eight matches and her 60th career singles victory. She also remains unbeaten in conference matches at the No. 2 position (4-0).
At No. 3 singles, Probert increased CU's lead on the scoreboard taking a 6-2, 7-5 winner over Mallory Weber. Probert improves to 6-2 in Big 12 matches and now has won four of five tallying her 14th triumph of the year. She also recorded her 20th career singles victory.
Belassi clinched the team victory for the sixth time this spring rallying from a set down to defeat Jamie Mera, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Belassi's win at the No. 1 singles slot was her sixth win in seven matches, and for the first time in her three-year career won 20 singles match in a season. The victory was her eighth career come-from-behind win after losing the opening set.
CU closes the home portion of the 2009 schedule with home matches against Iowa State (2 p.m.) on Friday, April 17 and on Sunday, April 19 against Nebraska (11 a.m.). Both matches will be played the South Campus Courts. In case of inclement of weather, both matches will be played inside the Millennium Hotel Harvest House.
No. 53 Colorado 4, No. 68 Missouri 3
CU (10-7, 6-2 Big 12), MU (7-10, 3-6 Big 12)
April 11, 2009, Columbia, Mo.
1d) Belassi/Esposito (CU) def. Weber/Mera (MU) 8-3
2d) Anuszkiewicz/Jendrian (CU) def. Giuggioli/Ritchie (MU) 9-8 (5)
3d) Ayala/Day (MU) def. Hedelund Jensen/Probert (CU) 8-6
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2*
1s) Camila Belassi (CU) def. Jamie Mera (MU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
2s) Melisa Esposito (CU) def. Jessica Giuggioli (MU) 6-3, 6-2
3s) Abbie Probert (CU) def. Mallory Weber (MU) 6-2, 7-5
4s) Danielle Day (MU) def. Franziska Jendrian (CU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
5s) Kaitlyn Ritchie (MU) def. Michala Hedelund Jensen (CU) 6-3, 0-0 (ret.)
6s) Sofia Ayala (MU) def. Ania Anuszkiewicz (CU) 0-6, 6-4 (10-3)
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1*, 5, 4, 6
Match Notes
CU improves to 12-2 against Mizzou in Big 12 play and 5-2 in Columbia; CU is now 4-1 this season in 4-3 decisions
Sixth time this season CU has won the match when the top three singles positions all win
CU improved to 8-1 when winning the doubles point, then won the match
Esposito recorded her 55th doubles win tied for seventh in school history
Jendrian won her 26th career Big 12 match (3rd all-time at CU)
Esposito won her singles 20th Big 12 Conference match (8th all-time at CU)
Players Mentioned
