Danielle Chapman absolutely owned the court with her serve during Mizzou tennis’ final competitive practice Tuesday, a session that saw Millie Skelton refusing to back down and Daria Budko hyping her teammates up. This wasn’t just another practice; it was a showcase of the Tigers’ intensity right before they head to Memphis for the ITA Regionals.
The Court Was on Fire: Mizzou’s Competitive Spirit Surges
The energy in practice was legit, with coach Robin Goodman and his crew pushing for consistency, discipline, and straight-up fire. They ran through competitive drills like alternate-shot doubles, serving tiebreakers, singles hitting, and live-ball doubles. You could feel the competitive juices flowing immediately in the opening alternate-shot, crosscourt drill. Budko, Mariana Higuita Barraza, Alex Ackman, and Chapman were battling against Skelton, Evelyn Whiteside, and Irina Anghel. Budko and Ackman were vocal leaders, pushing their squad to a tight 7-6 win in the first set, even after falling behind. The other team snatched the second set 7-1, but the final set showed just how much these Tigers want it, with Budko still cheering hard even when they were down, eventually closing out a 7-3 victory. That kind of fight is exactly what you want to see heading into a big tournament.
Chapman’s Serve Is a Weapon, Period.
That intensity just spilled right into the serving tiebreaker tournament. Players went head-to-head, first to seven points. Chapman straight up dominated Higuita Barraza 7-6. Skelton took out Budko 7-4, and Ackman was sharp in her 7-3 win over Whiteside. Skelton kept that same fire no matter the score, while Ackman played some super controlled tennis. The semis brought Skelton against Ackman, with Skelton winning 7-3 by dictating points with pure power. On the other side, Chapman, with her monster serve, beat Anghel 7-4. But the main event, the final between Chapman and Skelton, was all Chapman. She ripped Skelton 7-3, constantly using her serve and the follow-up shot to control every single rally. Goodman even talked about how Chapman is just a relentless competitor, forcing opponents to earn everything. He even recalled someone saying, “Every time I play Danny, I know I’m just going to have to make a thousand balls because she’s not going to give me anything.” That’s the kind of player you need.
This tournament is a big one, too. It’s the first time all nine Mizzou players and all three coaches (Goodman, associate head coach Manny Raga, and assistant coach Bronte Murgett) will be together at the same competition. Goodman’s looking at this as a chance to really see the group as a whole and solidify the foundation of his first season. He’s hyped about the progress, saying, “The last two tournaments have been really good, we’ve got a positive record.” Plus, he says their fitness is on point, and the girls have made huge gains in endurance, explosiveness, and the weight room. The ITA Regionals kick off Thursday. Keep an eye on Chapman and this Mizzou squad, because they’re bringing some serious heat to Memphis.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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