Cyclones Play Three Matches In Pennsylvania To Open Spring

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State tennis team will begin its dual season Friday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when it takes on Temple at the Hamlin Tennis Courts on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. Friday's match is slated to start at 4:30 p.m. (CT).

Following the Temple match, Iowa State will travel to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for matches against Villanova on Saturday (noon) and Lehigh on Sunday (10 a.m.).

The weekend will mark the beginning of a 14-match nonconference schedule prior to Iowa State begins Big 12 play against West Virginia in March.

The Cyclones are hoping for doubles to be the strong point this spring and ensure a successful dual season. The team concluded the fall schedule with a 10-2 record in doubles action at the SIUE Indoor Invite.

Iowa State will look to continue its momentum against Temple (0-1), which went 11-20 in doubles this fall. The Owls dropped their first match of the spring on Jan. 14, falling 6-1 to Old Dominion.

Sami Budai will be the leader for this Cyclone team in her final season. Budai, the first Iowa State player ranked by the ITA, is seventh for overall wins in school history. She was ranked No. 125 in the first rankings of the spring season.

Strong performances by the underclassmen will also be vital for this Cyclone team, head coach Armando Espinosa's ninth season at the helm of the program. Maty Cancini will look to continue her successful freshman year after winning the championship at the CSU Invitational this fall.