Cyclone Tennis Prepared for Hawkeye Invite

AMES, Iowa ? The Iowa State women's tennis team will open up its spring season at the Hawkeye Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Iowa City. Iowa, Drake and Northern Iowa will also be competing at the event. The Hawkeye Invitational will kick-off at 2 p.m. on Friday with doubles action vs. Iowa.

“This is a great opportunity for our players to get in a lot of match play before the dual season begins next week,” head tennis coach Michele Conlon said. “It will be a more relaxed atmosphere that will allow my players to work on their game and improve before duals.”

The Cyclones begin spring play after a three-month hiatus since the conclusion of the fall season. In fall action, the squad's freshmen shined; all three freshmen recorded a win in the initial fall meet, the Drake Invitational. Freshman Erin Karonis continued to find success at the Gopher Invitational when she opened up the first day of the tourney with two singles victories before falling in the bracket semifinals.

“The freshmen have done a great job contributing,” Conlon said. “They are very talented and hard-working players, but they are also finding success because of the leadership of the upperclassmen. The upperclassmen have set such a terrific standard on and off the court and have helped provide an atmosphere for success.”