The Missouri women’s tennis team launched its 2011 spring season against Southeast Missouri and UM—Kansas City on Sunday at the Green Tennis Center in Columbia.
The day started with a match against SEMO, in which the women won 7-0.
“I was very impressed by today,” interim coach Steven Stuckenschneider said. “I’ve been impressed by how quickly we’ve gotten our feet underneath us.”
Senior Kaitlyn Ritchie, who is ranked 51 nationally with fellow senior Mallory Weber in her doubles play, finished 6-0 and 6-1 in her singles sets and 8-1 in her doubles set.
“I’m very proud of my teammates today,” Ritchie said. “Having played for three years and knowing what we’re capable of, I expect this team to give 110 percent and work hard and fight for each other when we’re on the court. I think we really proved ourselves today.”
The team of freshman, Rachel Stuhlmann and sophomore Annemijn Koenen and partners Maria Christensen and junior Jamie Mera, also defeated their opponents in doubles play, with all players respectfully winning their singles sets.
After a short break, the team was back on the court with a match against UMKC, where MU had another perfect 7-0 match.
“I had personal goals today that I think were met, but most importantly, I had team goals too,” Stehlmann said. “I’ve been impressed by the effort we’ve all put in on the court and even off the court as well. I feel really good about today. I think we all feel good.”
Stehlmann’s single sets were both 6-0, and her doubles set with Koenen went 8-2 against UMKC. All of the other MU players also easily defeated their opponents.
The team’s start of the spring season was proven successful, despite recent changes in the team. After coaching the team for 14 years, Blake Starkey resigned earlier this month to become a director of tennis at a country club in Little Rock, Ark. Stuckenschneider, who is the manager of the tennis center in which the team plays, will be interim head coach until a permanent coach is hired.
“I wouldn’t use the word difficult, it was just a change, but I think we’re all doing a good job with it,” Stuckenschneider said. “We try to make it easy for them off the court so that they can focus on the court like they’re supposed to.”
The players are also happy with Stuckenschneider’s transition into interim head coach.
“It’s been a really positive thing,” Ritchie said. “They kept it as much the same as possible, which is really great. It’s been so positive. I feel like a transition like we had could not have been smoother.”
Missouri’s next competition is against Saint Louis University on Feb. 12, and the next home game will come Feb. 26 against the University of Denver.