Missouri State University
Oral Roberts
Home Dual Versus Oral Roberts Up Next for Tennis Bears
February 16, 2023 | Women's Tennis
| Missouri State (3-2) vs. Oral Roberts (0-4) | |
| Dates | Friday, Feb. 17, 12 p.m. |
| Location | Springfield, Mo. |
| Site | Cooper Tennis Complex |
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Dual DetailsÂ
Missouri State women's tennis (3-2) is set to take on Oral Roberts (0-4) on Friday, Feb. 17, at 12 p.m. at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. Admission is free.
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Baseline KnowledgeÂ
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Missouri State secured its first dual victory under first-year head coach Ellie Burger on Friday, Feb. 3, against Drury, 4-3. On the following day, the Bears followed up the DU victory with a win against Eastern Illinois, 5-2. MSU's first victories of the season snapped a 21-dual losing streak dating back to 2021.Â
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Last weekend, MSU followed up its first victories of the season by splitting two home duals. On Friday against Kansas City, Juliette Robinson (No. 3) and Silva Avakian (No. 6) picked up wins in singles, however the Bears fell to the Roos, 4-2. During Sunday's match versus Central Arkansas, Missouri State found itself down 3-1. However, the home Bears rattled off three straight victories in flights four through six to secure the dual, 4-3. The duo of Sandra Lukacova and Robinson earned a victory in No. 3 doubles, while Robinson (No. 3), Lukacova (No. 4), Alyson Piskulic (No. 5) and Avakian (No. 6) all secured wins in singles.
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Through five duals, the pair of Diana Cabrera and Piskulic hold a 3-1 ledger in doubles, with all matches occurring at the No. 2 position. Piskulic also holds a 4-1 mark in singles, maintaining a perfect 2-0 record in the No. 6 slot while going 2-1 in the No. 5 position.
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Elsewhere in singles dual action, Sandra Lukacova holds a record of 3-2 in the Nos. 4 and 5 slots, while Robinson maintains the same record in the Nos. 2-4 positions. Although only appearing in three matches thus far, Avakian holds a perfect 3-0 record in No. 6 singles.
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In the fall, Cabrera finished second in No. 1 singles at the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships. The doubles pair of Avakian/Houston grabbed fourth in No. 3 doubles, and Avakian also finished fifth in No. 6 singles.
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Overall, Missouri State players are 38-50 in singles matches and 15-22 in doubles contests.
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MSU was scheduled to play Louisiana Tech and McNeese State in Ruston, La., on Jan. 28, and Jan. 29. However, both duals were canceled due to weather conditions.
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The Bears were picked eighth out of nine teams in the 2023 MVC Preseason Poll, receiving 22 points.
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Coach Ellie BurgerÂ
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Before becoming head coach on June 1, Burger played tennis for the Bears from 2017-21 and was a three-time All-MVC performer. She ranks third in program history for career singles winning percentage (.782) with a 43-18 career record.
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Originally from Chesterfield, Mo., Burger captained the 2020-21 MoState tennis squad, leading the Bears to a 12-10 overall record and a runner-up finish in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. She was also a key part of the 2018 MVC Tournament championship squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament under coach Mallory Weber.
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Individually, Burger won a conference title in 2019 at No. 3 singles, becoming just the 13th Bear to win a singles flight in the Missouri Valley. She also earned All-MVC honors in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and was named as the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Female Student-Athlete of the Year by her fellow MSU student-athletes in 2020-21.
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2023 MVC Preseason Poll
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Belmont (6)
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Illinois State
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UIC (3)
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Drake
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Murray State
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Valparaiso
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Bradley
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Missouri State
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UNI
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Series History (based on information available)Â
The all-time dual series is tied between the two schools, 5-5. Last meeting: ORU 4, MSU 0 (Feb. 19, 2022).
Looking AheadÂ
Missouri State concludes its six-dual home stand against Southwest Baptist on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m. at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. Admission is free.Â
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