GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Missouri tennis team made history on Friday, March 21, securing its highest-ranked victory since 2017 with a thrilling 4-3 win over No. 22 Florida at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex. This marks Mizzou’s first-ever win against Florida, cementing a landmark moment for the program.
With the win, Missouri improves to 11-7 (2-6 SEC), while Florida drops to 7-7 (3-6 SEC).
Tigers Set the Tone with Doubles Dominance
Missouri started strong, capturing the crucial doubles point by winning two of the three matches.
- The duo of Inah Canete and Andrea Artimedi delivered a flawless 6-0 victory on court two, dismantling their Florida opponents.
- Lailaa Bashir and Zoe Lazar secured the point with a 6-3 win on court three, giving Mizzou the early 1-0 lead.
Big-Time Singles Wins Secure the Victory
The Tigers carried their momentum into singles play with standout performances across the board.
- Andrea Artimedi was dominant, winning 6-0, 6-0 on court six in a perfect display of skill and precision.
- Korina Roso followed up with a strong victory on court five, winning 6-0, 6-3.
- Mary Brumfield and Inah Canete fought hard against nationally ranked opponents, putting up strong efforts before narrowly falling in their matches.
With the match tied 3-3, it all came down to graduate student Lailaa Bashir on court three. In a tense, high-pressure battle, Bashir delivered in the clutch, winning 7-5, 7-6 to seal Missouri’s historic upset over Florida.
Coach Turati: “It Feels Amazing”
Head coach Bianca Turati expressed immense pride in her team’s effort and resilience:
“I am so proud of the whole team! There was an unbelievable amount of effort, starting with winning the doubles point. This was the first-ever win for Mizzou against Florida, and it feels amazing. The team deserves it. Shoutout to Lailaa, who stepped up when it came down to her court. Andy and Korina had significant wins in singles, too. Andy and Inah performed very well in doubles, as did Zoe and Lailaa. Now, we move on to the next one with even more determination and awareness! It’s a great day to be a Tiger! MIZ!”
What’s Next?
With this statement victory, Mizzou now sets its sights on another major SEC showdown, as they travel to Auburn to take on No. 11 Auburn on Sunday, March 23, at noon.
With momentum on their side, the Tigers are proving they can compete with the best, making this season one to watch for Missouri tennis.