Cyclones Defeat Wildcats in Big 12 Home Opener

AMES, Iowa- The Iowa State tennis team (14-4, 2-2 Big 12) earned a 4-2 win against Kansas State Friday afternoon at the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center in its first Big 12 home meet after starting on the road in their first three conference matches.

All season long the Cyclones have been maintaining their success by winning the doubles point to get off to an early start and using that momentum to carry them through. It was no different on Friday against the Wildcats.

The top pairing of Samantha Budai and Liza Buss fell to the top duo of Millie Stretton and Ana Garcia Navas, 6-3, but the Cyclones kept battling. Alejandra Galvis and Annabella Bonadonna put their opponents, Carolina Costamagna and Iva Bago, away, 6-4. The senior and freshman duo are 13-5 in doubles play together.

Regina Espindola and Ana Gasparovic, another freshman and senior duo, grabbed the doubles point for the Cyclones when they defeated their opponents, 7-5. The Cyclones are 9-1 on the season when they clinch the doubles point.

The Cyclones fast start continued over to singles play when Bonadonna defeated Livia Cirnu, 6-0, 6-0. The freshman has played strong all season mainly in the sixth spot and played perfect today in the fifth spot. Senior Samantha Budai followed up Bonadonna by defeating the top Wildcat athlete, Ana Garcia Navas, 6-0, 6-4.

After K-State closed the Cyclone lead to 3-2, Buss finished off the victory by defeating Sara Castellano 7-5, 6-4. Buss trailed 4-3 in the second set before rallying to give the Cyclones' back-to-back Big 12 victories.

Iowa State will face off against the No. 34 Kansas Jayhawks (12-5, 2-2 Big 12) at either 9:00 a.m or 11 a.m. on Sunday. If the weather permits, the Cyclones will take on the Jayhawks outdoors at the Forker Tennis Courts, but if the Iowa weather doesn't cooperate then the match will be moved inside to Ames Racquet and Fitness Center at 11:00 a.m.

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 13-7 on the year in singles play and she will be looking to win her second consecutive Big 12 singles match. The Cyclones will also look to win their third Big 12 competition in a row.

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.

Doubles: (Order of finish: 1,2,3)

1: Millie Stretton/Ana Garcia Navas (KSU) def. Samantha Budai/Liza Buss (ISU) 6-3

2: Alejandra Galvis/Annabella Bonadonna (ISU) def. Carolina Costamagna/Iva Bago (KSU) 6-4

3: Ana Gasparovic/Regina Espindola (ISU) def. Palma Juhasz/Livia Cirnu (KSU) 7-5

Singles: (Order of finish: 5,1,4,3,2)

1: Samantha Budai (ISU) def. Ana Garcia Navas (KSU) 6-0, 6-4

2: Liza Buss (ISU) def. Sara Castellano (KSU) 7-5, 6-4

3: Carolina Costamagna (KSU) def. Alejandra Galvis (ISU) 7-5, 6-3

4: Millie Stretton (KSU) def. Regina Espindola (ISU) 6-2, 6-3

5: Annabella Bonadonna (ISU) def. Iva Bago (KSU) 6-0, 6-0

6: Ana Gasparovic (ISU) vs. Livia Cirnu (KSU) DNF

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Players Mentioned

Annabella Bonadonna

Samantha Budai

Liza Buss

Regina Espindola

Alejandra Galvis

Ana Gasparovic

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics