COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Western Illinois women's tennis team (0-4) was swept in a doubleheader by the Missouri Tigers (2-0) on Saturday (Jan. 25).
Match 1:
After neither side filled the No. 3 doubles slaught, the Tigers took both doubles matches by a score of 6-2 for a 1-0 lead.
Both sides played with only five players, therefore the No. 6 flight was empty. Mizzou held the momentum from earlier and secured match victory 4-0 with wins in No. 1, 2, and 3 singles.
Match 2:
The lone Leatherneck senior, Laura Ballesteros, took the second set of her singles match 6-1 to force a third set in the No. 1 flight, but her match was left unfinished.
The second match of the day started with a battle with Ballesteros and Mara Vidal in No. 1 doubles. Their Southeastern Conference (SEC) matchup just outlasted the duo 6-4. A win in the No. 2 doubles (6-0) put the Tigers ahead 1-0.
Nikhita Simhambhatla (No. 2), Lucky Kancherla (No. 4), and Vidal (No. 3) all dropped in two straight sets in singles play. Missouri completed the sweep, 4-0 in its season opener.
Western Illinois travels to Wisconsin for weekend action at Green Bay Friday (Jan. 31) and Milwaukee Sunday (Feb. 2).
