Completed Event: Tennis versus Blue Gray National Tennis Classic on September 12, 2025 ,
Final
Tennis
Blue Gray National Tennis Classic
Iowa State University Athletics
Friday, February 8
Ames, Iowa
3:30 PM
Iowa State
5
vs
2
Western Illinois
ISU Tennis Kicks Off ?Think Pink? Weekend with Win
02.08.2008 | Tennis
AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State tennis team won a hard-fought dual with the Westerwinds of Western Illinois on Friday, 5-2.
Iowa State started the day off winning all three doubles matches vs. their foes from Macomb, Ill. The most contested of the three matches took place at No. 2 doubles. Caitlin Loprinzi and Alyssa Palen defeated the duo of Ashley Clark and Yana Meinert, 8-4. Going into the fourth game the score was tied 3-3. Loprinzi and Palen finished the match winning five of the last six games.
Senior Chrissy Derouin and freshman Erin Karonis were successful in No. 1 doubles, defeating Amanda Griffin and Kim Lennartsson, 8-1. Liza Wischer and Reka Kelemen were also triumphant.
The Cyclones were victorious in four of six singles matches. Loprinzi fought back after losing the first set to defeat Kate Kennedy, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.
“Caitlin really played a great match,” said Iowa State head coach Michele Conlon. “Any time you lose a set and come back 6-1, 6-0 , it is pretty telling in itself. Caitlin is a fighter and it really showed today.”
Along with Loprinzi, Iowa State's three freshmen were also successful in their singles matches. Erin Karonis took the first set of the match to a tiebreaker and defeated Western Illinois' Amanda Griffin, 7-6 (3),6-2, in a hard fought battle. At No. 5 singles, Liza Wischer and the Westerwind's Yana Meinert had a fierce fight in the first set, with Wischer ultimately taking the match, 7-5, 6-0. Reka Kelemen handily beat her opponent, Stephanie Baumer, in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1.
Friday's match was Iowa State's home opener and “Think Pink” day. All of the Cyclone tennis players wore pink Iowa State tennis shirts and many wore pink headbands and bracelets as part of Iowa State's attempt to raise breast cancer awareness.
“It was a great competition,” said Conlon. “But one of the biggest things we all need to beat is breast cancer. It was great to see a lot of fans out here wearing pink and supporting the cause. Hopefully the basketball teams and gymnastics team will have great turnout as well. It is nice to have our student-athletes be a part of something bigger than themselves.”
Iowa State hopes to build on Friday's success on Saturday afternoon when it takes on the 52nd-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. Doors at Ames Racquet and Fitness Center will open at 3 p.m. The first 40 fans will receive a free Cyclone women's tennis t shirt as part of “T-Shirt Day”.
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