Completed Event: Tennis at #19 TCU on March 15, 2026 , Loss , 0, to, 4
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Tennis
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#19 TCU
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Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclones Ready For Two Big 12 Opponents at Home
04.06.2016 | Tennis
AMES, Iowa- The Iowa State tennis team (13-4, 1-2 Big 12) will be taking on two Big 12 opponents at home this weekend after having time off from competition last week. The Cyclones will start the weekend on Friday at 2:00 p.m. against the Kansas State Wildcats (9-8, 1-3 Big 12). ISU is coming off its first Big 12 victory of the season against the West Virginia Mountaineers (6-8, 0-3 Big 12). The victory over the Mountaineers clinched the first winning season for the Cyclones since 1986-1987.
The Wildcats last match was against the TCU Horned Frogs (11-2, 3-0 Big 12), resulting in a 4-1 loss. The last time the Cyclones and Wildcats met was last season in the Big 12 Championships where the Wildcats got the best of the Cyclones in a 4-1 decision. Before that match, the Cyclones edged out Kansas State 4-3 in the regular season when the two met in Manhattan, Kan.
The Cyclones' second opponent this weekend will come against the other Big 12 team from Kansas, the No. 34 Kansas Jayhawks (12-5, 2-2 Big 12). The Jayhawks started off their season strong, but have hit a tough streak of matches, losing their last three. The Cyclones and Jayhawks last met in Lawerence, Kan., last season when the Jayhawks defeated the Cyclones, 4-2. Iowa State will have their hands full against #95 Anastasiya Rychagova in singles play. Budai will likely face off against the nationally-ranked freshman. Budai is currently 12-7 on the year in singles play and she is still looking for her first Big 12 victory on the season.
If the Cyclones hope to continue having success in Big 12 play than they are going to need their doubles pairings to play strong along with their senior leadership and the strong play from their freshman. Seniors Alejandra Galvis and Budai have been the leaders of the group this entire season. Both athletes have participated in almost every match this season. Freshmen Liza Buss and Annabella Bonadonna have played like veterans in their first-year campaigns. Buss and Budai have been paired together in the number one spot in doubles for the majority of the 2016 season and have compiled a 17-5 record together. Budai and Buss are set to take on the No. 67 doubles pairing of two other Jayhawk freshmen, Janet Koch and Nina Khmelnitckaia.
The team will look to get out to a fast start in both matches this weekend after having a full week off from competition. Getting out fast in doubles play and clinching the point early has been the winning strategy for the majority of the 2016 season for the Cyclones and this weekend should be no different.
This weekend's match ups of two tough conference opponents will be a great chance to get some momentum going with only four more Big 12 competitions before the championships.
Check back to Cyclones.com and follow our twitter @CycloneTEN as the weekend progresses for all updated results for both duals.
Also, be sure to check out the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the decision on whether the Cyclones will be playing indoors at the Ames Racquet and Tennis Center or outdoors at the Forker Tennis Courts.
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