The Tigers are unbeaten in doubles play after seven home matches.
The atmosphere at the Green Tennis Center on Saturday was light and relaxed.
But competition on the courts was not.
The Tigers, No. 4 in the Big 12 Conference, upset Colorado 4-3 in a meet that came down to the last match. Colorado is No. 2 in the Big 12.
“This is the first day where, in general, I feel like we put it all together in the same day,” Missouri coach Blake Starkey said. “You never win until you put yourself in the position to win, and there were obviously a lot of heroes today. But putting it together was the key.”
Observers never would have known the teamwas under such pressure to perform by watching. Its non-competing players keep the feeling of the meet comfortable and stress-free.
MU players talked about the nice mid-Missouri weather, how they looked forward to getting outside and why their parents would or would not allow them to have a pierced nose. They took playful shots at the New Zealand accent of freshman Charlotte Bellis as she timidly shouted encouragements to her teammates and accepted flowers after her doubles victory. They played with the coach’s young son and listened to music in preparation for singles competition.
On the court, the Tigers (7-2, 2-1 Big 12) went after their third consecutive doubles-point win and remained undefeated in doubles during the seven-game home stand.
Starkey says the double point can be a pivotal one, and it obviously was in Saturday’s meet.
“When your team goes into singles matches (after winning doubles), it puts a lot of pressure on the opposing team. They have to win a minimum of four to win the meet,” said Starkey.
After winning the doubles point for the third meet in a row, the Tigers faced the Buffaloes in singles and found themselves searching for wins.
Senior Katka Sevcikova played singles in the No. 1 spot for the Tigers and came through with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Lynzee Kever. After a disappointing loss lastweek, she rebounded with the doinating win and proved her point by scoring her winning shot with an ace.
“I was just trying to have fun and feel my shots,” Sevcikova said. “After the first set, I felt very confident going into the second.”
She credits her serve as her strong point.
Another win from sophomore Yelena Olshanskaya, in the No. 3 singles spot, put the Tigers up 3-1. But two losses in the No. 4 and No. 5 singles spots allowed the Buffaloes to tie the score 3-3.
Going into the final match, Missouri senior Carolyn Kramer battled Gleisy Torres for the meet win. She captured it by defeating Torres 6-2, 6-1.
The Tigers will play Louisville at 2 p.m. on Friday in the Green Tennis Center.