Jay Miller’s Tigers have struggled against ranked teams, losing 10 of 13 games against teams in the Top 25.

Iowa State has had similar results against tough opponents, including losses to No. 9 Fresno State, No. 20 Oregon and No. 24 Cal State-Northridge.

With Big 12 play beginning in two weeks, the three-day Missouri Round Robin, which starts today, presents the two conference foes with a chance to regain some confidence against each other and much weaker opponents in Indiana State (3-8) and Tennessee-Martin (1-15).

Missouri (7-13) hosts the Cyclones and UTM today at University Field.

"We’ve played an awful tough schedule so far," said Miller, in his 14th year at MU. "We need to get on a roll and put together a string before heading into conference."

ISU coach Ruth Crowe’s team started the year winning two of five but has since lost its last three.

Crowe sees the MU tournament as good preparation for the upcoming conference schedule.

"We’re looking forward to getting back out and playing again and hopefully putting some things back together that we had going for us that first weekend," Crowe said. "The season is a progression of steps that you hope that you are taking. Sometimes you the steps are back, but with every weekend you have the opportunity to improve out those things and get yourself at a good point before you get to the Big 12."

Hitting remains a concern for Iowa State (3-7) with two starters - centerfielder Adi Blackmon and shortstop Morgan LeCluyse - batting below .200 this season.

The pitching staff remains intact from last year, with right-handers Kristin Ferguson (0.66 ERA) and Jen Bice (2.72 ERA) leading the way.

"They will be a similar team they have been in the past," Miller said. "It’s a team you need to play well against, play solid. If we go out and do that we’ll do fine."

UTM is led by shortstop Misty Miles, whose .257 batting average is the best on a team that has four starters hitting below .190.

Indiana State outfielder Kim McGinley’s .333 batting average leads the Sycamores, but the pitching staff has an ERA of more than 4.00.

"We’re confident and we’re ready to start winning," said MU senior outfielder Karen Williams, who leads the Tigers hitting .444. "I don’t think there was anyone we’ve played that wasn’t ranked so we’re ready to come out and dominate."

Williams leads Missouri’s offense along with utility player Melanie Fisher, who is hitting .327. On the mound senior Stephanie Falk (6-7) is having another strong year, with a 2.26 ERA and 52 strikeouts.

"I would rather have it this way where we play the tougher opponents first and then come in to face weaker opponents instead of vice versa," said Williams. "It’s a big change but it’s better this way. It comes out easier for you, both mentally and physically."

● DIVING: After a conference championship in which both the men’s and women’s teams finished far better than expected, coach Brian Hoffer is hoping the good beat continues on.

The diving team is at the NCAA Zone Qualifier in Austin, Texas, this weekend and the team can look forward to some quality results. Divers can only qualify for the NCAA Championships after competing in the zone qualifier.

Kristy Wanner narrowly lost the conference championship in the one-meter springboard last month, but still placed second, the highest finish ever for a Missouri diver. Wanner will be accompanied by two divers from the men’s team, Jason Otte and Jamie Sweeney.

Otte and Sweeney finished fifth and sixth, respectively, on the one-meter springboard at the conference championships, the highest finishes for Missouri divers in school history.

The women’s NCAA Championships will take place in Long Island, N.Y. next week.

The men’s championship is in two weeks in Austin.

● GYMNASTICS: Rob Drass knows time is running out and that his team needs to put together a high scoring meet if it is to make the NCAA Regional Championships in April.

Missouri is on the outside looking in right now and must do well the next two weeks for any hope of making the regional. The Tigers will face Iowa State Sunday in Ames. The Tigers faced the 11th-ranked Cyclones last month in Columbia during the Gymnastics X-Treme, when Iowa State hit just about every routine and came away with a 196.475 team score.

Missouri will be without the services of senior Ann Gietler on the floor exercise due to a tear of the meniscus, the circular portion of the knee. She will continue to compete on the uneven bars, but because of the consistent tumbling, she won’t compete on the floor.

● TENNIS: The tennis team is hoping to bounce back from its recent loss to Nebraska with a dual versus Southeast Missouri State Saturday.

Missouri (8-3) is scheduled to play Club Woodrail at 4 p.m.

But if the weather is up to par, and all indications are that the weather will hold up, then the Tigers will play outside at the MU Outdoor Tennis Complex.

The Tigers, have been buoyed by the lower portion of the lineup, which is a combined 24-7 on the season in matches.

● GOLF: Both the men’s and women’s golf teams will be in action beginning Monday. The men will be in Lafayette, La., for the Louisiana Classics Intercollegiate, which finishes Tuesday. The men are coming off an eighth-place finish at the Rice Invitational.