Oct. 21, 2005
Salt Lake City, Utah -
Blake Starkey's young University of Missouri women's tennis team held up well at the Wilson ITA Central Regional Championship this week, as the Tigers got wins from freshman Stephanie Johns (Topeka, Kan. / Topeka) and the doubles tandem of Erika Josbena (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) and Yelena Olshanskaya (Los Angeles, Calif./Marlborough) during the week-long event hosted by the University of Utah.
The ITA Central Regional Tournament consisted of a 64-player qualifier, a 64-player main draw and a 64-team doubles competition. Only the top players from the Central Regional were selected to play in this year's event. Over the past four seasons, Mizzou has had teams win the double competition on two occasions and have also placed an individual in the singles finale.
Johns secured her win in the round of 64 with a 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 win over Fernanda DeValle of Kansas State. After the competitors split the first-two sets, the Topeka, Kan., native outlasted DeValle to earn a 10-6 decision in the deciding set and advance to the second round. Johns then concluded her singles play with a 7-5, 6-3 defeat to the seeded Maja Stanojevic of Missouri State.
"Considering the draws we got this year and the size of the group we brought out, I was really pleased with the way we battled and competed," Mizzou Head Coach Blake Starkey said. "We'd like to have advanced further, but that doesn't always happen. Stephanie Johns continues to be a bright spot, and I couldn't be more pleased with the way her game is developing - she just keeps getting better every time she steps on a court."
In the main doubles draw, Mizzou got a second victory from Josbena and Olshanskaya. Facing Martina Sedevic and Geisy Torres of Colorado, the Tiger tandem handed the Buffaloes an 8-5 defeat to advance to the round of 32. Josbena and Olshanskaya then fell to the grouping of Imke Reimens and Ewelina Skaza of Nebraska by an 8-4 margin.
Following the conclusion of the Wilson ITA Central Regional Championship on Sunday (Oct. 23) Mizzou returns to action on Nov. 6 at the Tiger Pro-Am in Columbia. Action at the Tiger Pro-Am begins at 9 a.m. and will run all day.
MEET RESULTS
Main Draw Singles
Round of 64 Santie Delport (Tulsa) def. Yelena Olshanskaya (Mizzou) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
Main Draw Doubles
Round of 32 Reimens/Skaza (Nebraska) def. Josbena/Olshanskaya (Mizzou) 8-4
Round of 64 Josbena/Olshanskaya (Mizzou) def. Sedevic/Torres (Colorado) 8-5
Qualifying Draw Singles
Round of 32 **Maja Stanojevic (Missouri State) def. Stephanie Johns (Mizzou) 7-5, 6-3
Round of 64 Stephanie Johns (Mizzou) def. Fernanda DeValle (Kansas State) 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
Round of 64 Zuzanna Osinska (Oklahoma State) def. Erika Josbena (Mizzou) 7-5, 6-4
** - Indicates seeded player
. . . M I Z Z O U . . .
