Women's Tennis Falls to Mizzou

Saturday, February 19

Louisville, Ky.

10:00 AM

University of Louisville

MISSOURI

The Cardinals face Rutgers next in a BIG EAST matchup Feb. 26.

February 19, 2011 | Women's Tennis

Feb. 19, 2011

The University of Louisville women's tennis team fell to Missouri 4-3 Saturday afternoon at the Bass Rudd Tennis Center.

"Another tough 4-3 loss but the team is competing as hard as they can," said U of L head coach Mark Beckham. "We were missing a couple starters who are out from injury, but for us to fight and almost pull it out goes to our character as a team. We just need to manage to get throught the next couple weeks and get healthy and get strong for second half of the season."

Louisville got on the board first, earning the doubles point and taking a quick 1-0 lead. The duo of sophomore Mandy Brown and junior Gabi Duncan gave the Cards the advantage by defeating Mizzou's Jamie Mera and Maria Christensen 8-4 at the No. 3 spot. Freshmen Becca Shine and Julia Fellerhoff fell at the No. 1 spot to Kaitlyn Ritchie and Mallory Weber 8-6. With the count evened, Louisville's team of freshmen Stephanie Villajuan and junior Amelia Harris downed Missouri's Marlen Hacke and Rachel Stuhlmann to give the Cards the early advantage.

In singles play, Missouri surged ahead to put 3 points on the board. The Tigers tied the score at the No. 4 spot when Maria Christensen beat Kaysara Mandry 6-1, 6-0. Marlen Hacke was able to gain the lead by defeating Becca Shine of Louisville 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 3 spot and Kaitlyn Ritchie downed the Cards' Mandy Brown 7-5, 6-0 in the No. 2 slot.

Down 3-1 and playing with the match on the line, Louisville was able to tie the score 3-3 with Julia Fellerhoff beat Mallory Weber 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot and Gabi Duncan defeating Rachel Stuhlmann 7-5, 6-2 as the sixth seed.

The match came down to the No. 5 seed where Missouri's Jamie Mera was able to best Louisville's Amelia Harris in three sets, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to give the Tigers the victory.

The Cards will be back in action when they host BIG EAST foe Rutgers Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. at the Bass Rudd Tennis Center.

Singles1- Julia Fellerhoff (UL) def. Mallory Weber (MIZZ) 6-4, 6-42- Kaitlyn Ritchie (MIZZ) def. Mandy Brown (UL) 7-4, 6-13- Marlen Hacke (MIZZ) def. Becca Shine (UL) 6-4, 6-24- Maria Christensen (MIZZ) def. Kaysara Mandry (UL) 6-1, 6-05- Jamie Mera (MIZZ) def. Amelia Harris (UL) 2-6, 6-2, 6-46- Gabi Duncan (UL) def. Rachel Stuhlmann (MIZZ) 7-5, 6-2Order of Finish: 4, 3, 2, 1, 6, 5
Doubles1- Weber/Ritchie (UM) def. Shine/Fellerhoff (UL) 8-62- Villajuan/Harris (UL) def. Hacke/Stuflmann (UM) 8-63- Brown/Duncan (UL) def. Mera/Christensen (UM) 8-4Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2