Missouri women’s tennis came into the weekend looking to improve on an already impressive 5-2 record. In Minneapolis for another slate of road matches, they did just that with a 3-0 weekend sweep.
On Friday, the Tigers played host team Minnesota and set the tone for the weekend, cruising to a 4-1 victory. Saturday brought more success for the Tigers as they faced off in a double-header against Memphis and South Dakota. They took both matches 4-0.
Missouri coach Colt Gaston was pleased with the way his team started strong in doubles against Minnesota, and he credited his team’s success early on to its focus.
The senior pairing of Cassidy Spearman and Bea Machado Santos got the ball rolling for the Tigers, as they quickly seized the first victory of the day for the Tigers 6-2. The pairing is 4-0 this season.
In singles, Missouri did not slow down. Brianna Lashway, competing in the No. 1 position, swiftly defeated her opponent 6-2, 6-3. After the match, Gaston complimented the junior for her strong play.
“Lashway was the biggest thing today,” he said. “She really stepped up and put the pedal down at the No. 1 spot. She went in and did the things we asked for with energy and work ethic. She put in a really good match. That helped us get ahead early, and the rest of the team followed.”
Amina Ismail completed an impressive comeback victory at the No. 5 position to secure the match victory for the Tigers. Ismail, down after dropping the first set 4-6, came roaring back, taking the second and third sets 6-3 and 6-1, respectively. The win was Ismail’s team-leading 22nd overall victory spanning back to the fall season.
The Tigers had a quick turnaround for a 10 a.m. match on Saturday, but Missouri prevailed over Memphis with a 4-0 win.
The doubles pairing of Santos and Spearman continued to pay dividends, as they once again had no problem securing a win 6-2.
Freshman Tate Schroeder and Ismail picked up their first doubles victory of the weekend soon after, cruising to a 6-1 win. The match clinched the doubles point and continued the Tigers’ dominant doubles trend.
In singles, the Tigers were led by some familiar faces as they continued their dominance. Santos wasted no time in giving Mizzou a 2-0 lead. She had little resistance in the match, which she won by a decisive score, 6-3, 6-1.
Schroeder followed the lead of the senior captain and defended her nearly perfect singles record. Her skills looked sharp as she picked up a 6-2, 6-3 victory in the No. 4 position.
The Tigers returned to the courts for their last match of the weekend Saturday night, when they faced an 0-5 South Dakota team that looked eager for its first victory of the season.
The Tigers made sure to quickly suppress any hope of an upset, controlling the match from the very first serve and ending the weekend with a 4-0 victory.
Santos and Spearman secured their third doubles victory on the weekend 6-2. The pairing has now become a force touting a 6-0 record since Gaston made the decision to switch up the lineup a little over a week ago.
Lashway and junior Clare Raley then picked up a 6-3 victory, giving the Tigers the doubles point. Mizzou ended the weekend with a 17-6 doubles record this season.
In singles, it was Raley that got things started for the Tigers, snatching a 6-1, 6-0 victory. She improves her singles record to 3-2 on the season.
Santos recorded another win, capping of an already impressive weekend with a 6-1, 6-0 victory.
The weekend finished up a brutal 10-match road trip that saw the Tigers go 8-2. Missouri solidified a doubles lineup that looks to be able to compete against anybody. Santos has gone 3-1 in singles since starting the season 0-3, and opponents have yet to figure out Schroeder, who is 7-1 in her singles matches.
The Tigers will return to Columbia for their first home match of the season against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 25. The first serve is scheduled for noon.
_Edited by Eli Lederman | elederman@themaneater.com_