Completed Event: Tennis at #19 TCU on March 15, 2026 , Loss , 0, to, 4
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Iowa State University Athletics
Young Talent Leads ISU Tennis Into Future
05.06.2008 | Tennis
AMES, Iowa - Seniors Caitlin Loprinzi and Chrissy Derouin's chapters as members of the Iowa State tennis team have come to a close, but their competiveness and character have laid the ground work for the future of the Cyclone tennis program. Iowa State returns five of seven players to next year's roster and welcome the additions of four new Cyclones. Leading the way are the Cyclones three current freshman; Liza Wischer, Erin Karonis and Reka Kelemen.
Karonis stepped in as a first-year player as the Cyclones' No. 1 singles player and teamed with Chrissy Derouin on ISU's No. 1 doubles team. Karonis, a native of Ivyland, Pa., earned team Most Valuable Player honors as voted on by her Cyclone teammates following her initial collegiate season. Karonis took part in two of Iowa State's biggest upsets of the year, defeating Texas Tech's Samantha van der Drift, a former All-Big 12 honoree. She also teamed with Derouin to upend Texas A&M's duo of Tiffany Clifford and Anna Blagodarova, who finished the season ranked the 51st-best doubles team in the nation.
Competing at the No. 1 position for both doubles and singles meant that Karonis was able to take on some of the best competition in the country.
"It was an amazing experience playing against members of other Big 12 teams," said Karonis. "To play against someone of that level, you are really forced to improve and make changes to your game. It is also very humbling, and helps you realize that there is always room for improvement. I know I have personally gotten better after every match, win or lose, because I was forced to work on new things. It is also great to be able to say that you competed in one of the best tennis conferences in the country."
Joining Karonis is fellow freshman Liza Wischer. Wischer, who is originally from Grand Forks, N.D., spent the season playing the No. 4, 5 and 6 spots for singles and in the No. 3 doubles spot. Wischer led the Cyclones in doubles wins in her first season. Wischer is no stranger to success, posting a 129-0 record throughout her career at Grand Forks Red River High School.
"Liza was voted our hardest worker this year," said ISU head coach Michele Conlon. "So combining that with her desire to win, we are eager to get her back out on the court."
Perhaps Wischer's most impressive victory of the season came at the No. 3 doubles spot, where she teamed with Reka Kelemen to defeat No. 4 Baylor's Jana Bielikova and Natalie Holmes, 8-6. The duo also posted a victory over Big 12 foe Nebraska's Amber Chandronnait and Stephanie Evans. In singles competition, Wischer came away with a victory over Texas Tech's Maria Jose Andres.
The other half of the ISU doubles team that beat Nebraska and Baylor's No. 3 doubles team's, Kelemen, came a long way from Budapest, Hungary, to Ames, Iowa, to compete at Iowa State. On top of beating Baylor's double team, she was also able to beat her singles opponent from No. 4 Baylor, defeating Natalie Holmes, 7-5, 6-2, at the No. 6 singles slot.
Though her Baylor win was impressive, it was not her most memorable.
"My most memorable match this year was the one against Drake," said Kelemen. "I played Daria Zawislak, and since the team score was 3-3, it was all on my match. I ended up winning in a tiebreaker in the third set after several match points on both sides. It was the longest and most nerve-racking match in my life. The incredible team support that my teammates provided through all four hours made Feb. 29, a memorable day for me."
Kelemen's hard work throughout the year earned her the honor of being named the team's Most Improved Player.
"Reka improved more than anyone this past year," said Conlon. "She will undoubtedly have an impact on our team in years to come."
The Cyclones will be a very young team next season, as seven out of 10 members of the team will be either sophomores or freshman. Along with Karonis, Kelemen and Wischer, ISU also returns senior Kara Hickey and junior Alyssa Palen.
"Kara will be the our lone senior next year and she will be a good one," said Conlon. "She is very disciplined and focused, and I believe that kind of leadership will have a positive impact on the team."
"I am very much looking forward to Alyssa's contribution next year," said Conlon. "I have always loved her game. She is very capable in both singles and doubles."
In addition to the returnees, the Cyclones will add four newcomers next season; Maria Fernanda Macedo, Marie-Christine Chartier, Tessa Lang and Chelsea Loprinzi.
"While we have perhaps the best recruiting class in the history of our program, these returners will be bringing a lot of great things to the team next year," said Conlon. "They will all be putting in a lot of hard work this summer."
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