Espinosa Looks Back at Fall Season

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head tennis coach Armando Espinosa sat down with cyclones.com to reflect on the squad's fall season. The team wrapped up its off-season competition when the WMU Super Challenge ended Sunday.

The 12-person roster started the season when they split up to compete at the Gopher Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn. and the University of Northern Iowa's Invitational in Waterloo, Iowa in September. Simona Cacciuttolo and Maria Macedo then participated in the ITA Regionals tournament in Tulsa, Okla. while the rest of the squad competed in Lawrence, Kan. at the Kansas University Invitational. Last weekend's Super Challenge in Kalamazoo, Mich. marked the end of the fall season.

Highlights of the fall include when Marie-Christine Chartier and Nikki Reber, an Iowa State senior/sophomore pair, captured the doubles title at the Gopher Invitational. It was the first tournament title for the Cyclones, and the pair set the stage for more success at the upcoming UNI Invitational.

Maria Macedo was the only upperclassman competing at UNI, and she set an example for her three freshmen teammates when she won the Platinum singles bracket. Macedo wrapped up her perfect singles weekend and saw two of her rookie teammates win as well. Meghan Cassens and Ksenia Pronina paired up in Waterloo to defeat a duo from Missouri and win a doubles bracket on the same day.

Cassens' good form didn't end at the UNI Invitational. The freshman from Tacoma, Wash. won her first singles title at the college level at the KU Invitational.

After four successful tournaments, the Cyclones ventured up to Kalamazoo, Mich. to round out duals at the WMU Super Challenge where the team collected 10 more wins.

Iowa State opens up spring action at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational in Ft. Myers, Fla., Jan. 14-16.

Players Mentioned

Simona Cacciuttolo

Simona Cacciuttolo

Meghan Cassens

Marie-Christine Chartier

Marie-Christine Chartier

Ksenia Pronina

Nikki Reber

Nikki Reber

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