Oct. 21, 2010

Fayetteville, Ark. - Mizzou Tennis opened play at the 2010 USTA/ITA Central Region Championships on Thursday and got wins from junior standout Jamie Mera and sophomore transfer Annemijn Koenen in the qualifying draws to pace the club.

The 2010 Central Regional is being held in Fayetteville, Ark., at the Dills Indoor Stadium and Billingsley Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas. Competition runs Oct. 21-25.

Mera received an opening-round bye and took full advantage by blanking Jessica Aguilera of Drake, 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the round of 16. Mera improved her fall singles record to 4-4 with the win and will face Jade Frampton of Arkansas on Friday.

Koenen also earned a straight-sets win in her opening match. The Tiger sophomore knocked off Chelsea Finnegan of Nebraska 6-1, 6-4, before falling in the round of 32 to Oklahoma State's Sarah Meghoufel, 6-0, 6-0.

Freshman Rachel Stuhlman dropped her opening contest to Saint Louis' Stephanie Hollis, 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 (6), but rebounded nicely to defeat Bradley's Meredith McDonaugh, 6-0, 6-2 in the consolation round.

Action at the 2010 USTA/ITA Central Region Championships continues on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. Beginning play for the Tigers in the main singles draw will be seniors Mallory Weber and Kaitlyn Ritchie and sophomore Maria Christensen. Doubles play also begins for Mizzou, with Stuhlmann / Koenen, Mera / Christensen and Ritchie/Weber participating in the main draw.

For more information on Mizzou Tennis, please visit our website, mutigers.com.

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