Oct. 4, 2009

Columbia, MO -

Mizzou's annual "Ace For A Cure" tournament came to a close this afternoon with near perfect fall weather in Columbia. A weekend focused on breast cancer awareness, the team got a chance to raise money for the cause as well as play a few competitive matches.

The "Ace For A Cure" tournament is unique in that it houses all of the tournament's teams with local families for the weekend instead of them being in a hotel. On Saturday, the girls all attend a luncheon together and hear from a breast cancer survivor in regards to awareness and early detection.

"It's amazing that all these girls are out here competing against one another but once you put them all together in the same room they all have so much in common," Head Coach Blake Starkey said.

Girls from some of the other schools also took note of the tournament's unique features.

"I really liked this tournament, it's a lot different from others. It felt good to be a part of this and actually get to know some of the other girls and people from Columbia," said Drake's Gabby Demos.

To start the day, the Tiger duo of Kristen Bleakley and Andrea Lewis edged out a Pink, Black and Gold bracket three win over Louisville's Sarah Miller and Stefanie Villajuan, 8-6.

Rounding out a solid first weekend at home, freshman Lewis feels as if she really gained a lot from this experience.

"Being home was a nice transition from being in Vegas. I had tough competition in every single match and it made me focus on different aspects of my game. This was a growing weekend for me, and I think it went really well," Lewis said. 

Singles action featured several Mizzou players as doubles partners Jamie Mera and Mallory Weber took to the courts to compete head-to-head for the singles Pink, Black and Gold bracket 1 title. But, the junior, Weber, proved her experience and carded a 6-4, 7-5 win over Mera to earn top honors in bracket 1.

In Pink, Black and Gold bracket four, doubles partners squared off once more as sophomore Danielle Day and junior Maureen Modesto took the court. Day defeated Modesto in with a 6-3 win in the third set. 

Several matches of the day were cut short due to Texas Tech's early departure to catch a flight home. In bracket two consolation, Tech's Lerena Aviles was ahead of Mizzou's Kaitlyn Ritchie 6-2, 1-2. In bracket three, Lewis was ahead of Tech's Kerryn Potgeiter
6-3, 2-1.  

On the other side of singles Pink, Black and Gold bracket three, Louisville's Kaysara Mandry defeated Mizzou's Bleakley 7-6, 6-3.

The Missouri women will be in action again at the end of the month when they travel to Norman, OK for ITA Regionals October 21-25.

2009 Mizzou "Ace For A Cure" Tournament
Green Tennis Center, Columbia, MO 
Saturday, October 4, 2009 (Day 3)

TEAM CODES:
MIZ= University of Missouri
TTECH= Texas Tech University
DU= Drake University
LU= University of Louisville

SINGLES
PINK, BLACK AND GOLD BRACKET ONE FINAL:
Mallory Weber (MIZ) def. Jamie Mera (MIZ) 6-4, 7-5
ADDITIONAL MATCHES:
Natalie Leitch (TTECH) def. Ashley Irvin (LU) 7-5, 6-3
Amelia Harris (LU) def. Manca Krizman (DU) 7-6, 6-7, 7-6

PINK, BLACK AND GOLD BRACKET TWO FINAL:
ADDITIONAL MATCHES:
Sofia Ayala (MIZ) def. Stefanie Peana (TTECH) 6-4, 6-1
CONSOLATION:
*Lerena Aviles (TTECH) def. Kaitlyn Ritchie (MIZ) 6-2, 1-2

PINK, BLACK AND GOLD BRACKET THREE FINAL:
Kaysara Mandry (LU) def. Kristen Bleakley (MIZ) 7-6, 6-3
CONSOLATION:
*Andrea Lewis (MIZ) def. Kerryn Potgeiter (TTECH) 6-3, 2-1

PINK, BLACK AND GOLD BRACKET FOUR FINAL:
Danielle Day (MIZ) def. Maureen Modesto (MIZ)

DOUBLES
PINK, BLACK AND GOLD BRACKET THREE FINAL:
Kristen Bleakley/Andrea Lewis (MIZ) def. Sarah Miller/Stefanie Villajuan (LU) 8-6