Cyclones Fall to Oklahoma State in Conference Opener

Friday, March 18

Ames, Iowa

3:30 PM

Iowa State

Oklahoma State

Cyclones Fall to Oklahoma State in Conference Opener

03.18.2011 | Tennis

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State started off conference competition against Oklahoma State Friday, falling 5-2 at the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center. Though the Cyclones (9-6, 0-1 Big 12) gained the doubles point, the pairs' efforts were not enough to solidify a match win for the team.

Two of the Cyclone pairs clinched close victories against the Cowgirls. Tessa Lang and Maria Macedo won a nail-biter set at No. 1 doubles, defeating Kanyapat Narattana and Nataliya Shatkovskaya in a 9-7 decision. Jenna Langhorst and Liza Wischer were defeated 8-3 at No. 3, leaving it to Erin Karonis and Simona Cacciuttolo at No. 2 doubles. The pair dueled Sasha Belova and Sarah Meghoufel and came ahead with a 10-8 tiebreaker victory.

“I think we played really well in doubles,” Cyclone coach Armando Espinosa said. “We fought hard, and in order for us to get up to the next level, we're going to have to continue to work hard.”

Macedo posted the only singles win over Sasha Belova at the No. 2 singles spot, going 6-0, 6-4. Karonis dropped a heartbreaker after a long battle against Shatkovskaya at No. 1, falling 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.

“Oklahoma State is a great team,” Espinosa said. “The momentum from doubles was great, but the energy going into singles didn't carry over much. We need to do a better job of keeping up the intensity.”

Iowa State will return to action tomorrow, hosting the Oklahoma Sooners at 2 p.m. (CDT) The match is set to take place outdoors at the Forker Tennis Courts, weather permitting.

Singles
1. Nataliya Shatkovskaya (OSU) def. Erin Karonis (ISU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1
2. Maria Macedo (ISU) def. Sasha Belova (OSU) 6-0, 6-4
3. C.C. Sardinha (OSU) def. Tessa Lang (ISU) 6-2, 6-0
4. Malika Rose (OSU) def. Simona Cacciuttolo (ISU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Kanyapat Narattana (OSU) def. Marie-Christine Chartier (ISU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Sarah Meghoufel (OSU) def. Liza Wischer (ISU) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
1. Lang/Macedo (ISU) def. Narattana/Shatkovskaya (OSU) 9-7
2. Cacciuttolo/Karonis (ISU) def. Belova/Meghoufel (OSU) 9-7 (10-8)
3. Rose/Sardinha (OSU) def. Langhorst/Wischer (ISU) 8-3