Box Score
SPRINGFIELD – In lieu of its full roster, the Missouri State women's tennis team fell 4-0 to the Creighton Bluejays here at the Cooper Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon.
Despite not having the full number of players available for three doubles matches, two MSU pairs played against the Bluejays. Mara Presot and Juliette Robinson were the first to finish for the Bears, falling to Creighton's Kate Krueger and Gabby O'Connor 6-4 to give the Bluejays the doubles point. Similarly, MSU (0-7) was down a singles player, giving Creighton (5-3) the swift 2-0 advantage to begin the match.
In an early deficit, Mary Houston battled in Flight 2 of singles, taking Valerie Negin to three sets before falling 6-3, 10-6, 4-3. Sandra Lukacova and Kate Miley were defeated in two sets apiece, to give the Bluejays the four points needed to clinch the match.
"I couldn't be prouder of a team going through adversity, right now," said head coach Randall Knox. "With five players healthy, we almost pulled out the doubles point. In singles, we were extremely aggressive knowing we had to play that way. We had a lot of chances but at the end of the day, it just wasn't meant to be. I believe though that despite this loss something clicked. We know we still have a lot to play for moving forward."
MSU will be back in action on Friday, March 4 at 5 p.m. when they take on UT-Martin in Martin, Tenn. The match against the Skyhawks will begin a nine-game road trip for the Bears, before they return to the Cooper Tennis Complex on April 9.
1. Juliette Robinson (MSU) vs. Kate Krueger (CU) 4-6, 5-5, unfinished
2. Mary Houston (MSU) vs. Valerie Negin (CU) 6-3, 0-6, 4-3, unfinished
3. Malvika Shukla (CU) def. Sandra Lukacova (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Meredith Benson (CU) def. Kate Miley (MSU) 7-5, 7-5
5. Mara Presot (MSU) vs. Gabby O'Connor (CU) unfinished
6. Allison Wilcox (CU) def. No player (MSU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles:
1. Mary Houston/Kate Miley (MSU) vs. Valerie Negin/Malvika Shukla (CU) 3-4, unfinished
2. Gabby O'Connor/Kate Krueger (CU) def. Mara Presot/Juliette Robinson (MSU) 6-4
3. Jeanne Gearity/Meredith Benson (CU) vs. No player/No player (MSU) no result
