March 13, 2004

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Texas Tech women's tennis team fell today to the Missouri Tigers, 5-2. The Lady Raiders were unable to find a win on the doubles court, and also struggled in singles play winning two out of six matches.

In singles play, senior Irina Tereschenko was defeated by Urska Jurik, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, in the first position, while senior Kendall Brooks was also defeated by Katka Sevcikova, 6-3, 6-1, in the second position. In position number three, sophomore Tara Browning lost to Hana Kraftova, 6-4, 6-2. Producing one of Tech's two wins was freshman Lakann Wagley, who defeated Yelena Olshanskaya, 6-3, 6-1, in the fourth position. Sophomore Katja Kovacic had Tech's other singles win by defeating Mary Barry, 7-6(3) ret., in the fifth position. In the sixth position, freshman Iva Gyurgina was defeated by Erika Josbena, 6-1, 6-1, to round out singles play.

In doubles action, Tech went 0-3 on the day. In the first position, Brooks and Tereschenko lost to Juric and Sevcikova, 8-3, while No. 48 Kovacic and Browning lost to Olshanskaya and Josbena, 8-2. In position number three, Wagley and freshman Hristiyana Gocheva lost to Kraftova and Barry, 8-5.

"Missouri has a very strong team and I think we played well on most of the courts," said head coach Cari Groce. "There were a couple of matches where we felt we could be stronger and basically they were a better team than us today. I think we're ready to face the Jayhawks tomorrow. We're playing good tennis and we're going to take that on the courts tomorrow."

The Lady Raiders move to a spring record of 5-3 and 1-2 in Big 12 Conference play. Tech will compete again tomorrow in Lawrence, Kan., against Kansas at noon.

Results listed below:

Singles

1. Urska Juric (MU) def. Irina Tereschenko (TT) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

2. Katka Sevcikova (MU) def. Kendall Brooks (TT) 6-3, 6-1

3. Hana Kraftova (MU) def. Tara Browning (TT) 6-4, 6-2

4. Lakann Wagley (TT) def. Yelena Olshanskaya (MU) 6-3, 6-1

5. Katja Kovacic (TT) def. Mary Barry (MU) 7-6 (3), ret.

6. Erika Josbena (MU) def. Iva Gyurgina (TT) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

1. Juric/Sevcikova (MU) def. Tereschenko/Brooks (TT) 8-3

2. Olshanskaya/Josbena (MU) def. Browning/Kovacic (TT) 8-2

3. Kraftova/Barry (MU) def. Wagley/Gocheva (TT) 8-5