Cyclone Tennis Fights For 4-3 Win Over WVU

Friday, March 13

Ames, Iowa

12:00 PM

Iowa State

West Virginia

Cyclone Tennis Fights For 4-3 Win Over WVU

03.13.2015 | Tennis

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa- The Iowa State tennis team took down the West Virginia Mountaineers, 4-3, on Friday in an emotional battle at the Forker Courts. It was the first outdoor home match of the season for the Cyclones, and the return of junior Ana Gasparovic to the lineup.

The Cyclones improve to 5-7 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 action. West Virginia falls to 9-4 overall and 0-1 in conference action. The win was Iowa State's third in a row against the Mountaineers.

“West Virginia came in firing from the start,” head coach Armando Espinosa said. “We really had to play well. I wish it wouldn't have come as close as it was, and I'm glad it came our way, but this match could have gone either way.”

The Cyclones took the lead early, clinching the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. After a loss for Gasparovic and senior Meghan Cassens, senior Ksenia Pronina paired up with sophomore Sami Budai for a win over Ikttesh Chahal and Kaja Mrgole, 6-2. With the point on the line, senior Caroline Andersen and junior Alejandra Galvis fought for a 6-4 win over Carolina Lewis and Yvon Martinez.

“[The doubles point] was very crucial,” Espinosa said. “If we don't win the doubles point then we lose, bottom line. It was good to see that the doubles point came out in our favor .”

The Mountaineers' first team point came at No. 1 singles, as Budai fell, 6-1, 6-1, to Kaja Mrgole. Pronina quickly answered at No.2, taking down Hailey Barrett, 6-1, 6-4.

The back and forth continued with a 6-3, 6-3, loss for Natalie Phippen at No. 5 singles to Carolina Lewis.

Cassens, Galvis and Gasparovic each battled through three sets in the sunshine. Cassens was down one set before coming back to win it, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Gasparovic fell at No. 6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0, to Martinez, bringing the clinching point down to the match at No. 4 singles.

“I was very pleased how Alejandra was composed toward the end,” Espinosa said.

Galvis won her first set over Habiba Shaker, but Shaker evened the playing field with a second-set win. Both players came back firing, forcing a tiebreak point in the third set. After an emotion-filled third set, Galvis won the match for the Cyclones with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(13) win over Shaker.

The Cyclones' will hit the courts next in Queens, New York, to take on St. John's University.

Iowa State 4, West Virginia University 3
Singles competition
1. Kaja Mrgole (WVU) def. Budai, Samantha (ISU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Pronina, Ksenia (ISU) def. Hailey Barrett (WVU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Cassens, Meghan (ISU) def. Ikttesh Chahal (WVU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
4. Galvis, Alejandra (ISU) def. Habiba Shaker (WVU) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (13-11)
5. Carolina Lewis (WVU) def. Phippen, Natalie (ISU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Yvon Martinez (WVU) def. Gasparovic, Ana (ISU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Budai, Samantha/Pronina, Ksenia (ISU) def. Ikttesh Chahal/Kaja Mrgole (WVU) 6-2
2. Hailey Barrett/Habiba Shaker (WVU) def. Cassens, Meghan/Gasparovic, Ana (ISU) 6-3
3. Andersen, Caroline/Galvis, Alejandra (ISU) def. Carolina Lewis/Yvon Martinez (WVU) 6-4
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,2,5,3,4)