The University of Missouri women’s tennis team was the only obstacle between Kansas juniors Courtney and Kristen Steinbock and a trip to the finals of the Omni Hotels Women’s Tennis Central Region Championships this weekend in Tulsa, Okla.
After the Steinbocks defeated the University of Tulsa’s Aleksandra Durska and Alicia Pillay 8-5 they fell to Missouri’s Urksa Juric and Katka Sevcikova 5-8 in the semifinals of the tournament Saturday.
In singles, sophomore Paige Brown could not get past the quarterfinals, losing to No. 1 seeded Pillay 6-1, 6-3.
Courtney Steinbock also competed in the backdraw, or consolation, singles final Sunday after losing her first match in the main draw. She went on to win three straight matches en route to the backdraw championship. Maja Kovacek of the University of New Mexico defeated Steinbock, 6-3, 6-2.
“Overall, this was a very good tournament for us,” coach Kilmeny Waterman said. “Paige Brown is playing the best she has ever played and Courtney Steinbock has won some tough matches and is playing at a new level herself. We are excited for next spring.”
Freshman Christine Skoda worked her way to the quarterfinals in the qualifying draw. Skoda would eventually fall to Melissa Mendieta of the University of Oklahoma 6-3, 6-0.
Another notable performance for the Jayhawks came from junior Emily Haylock who lost a close match to Kansas State University’s Haley McIver 7-6, 6-7, (10-5). Haylock dropped the first set but bounced back to win the second. However, Haylock could not defeat McIver in a close tie break to decide the match.
The Omni Hotels tournament ends the fall season for the Jayhawks. The team will resume play during the spring season.
