Cyclones Drop Spring Opener to Temple, 4-2

PHILADELPHIA - The Iowa State tennis team (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) fell to the Temple Owls (1-1, 0-0 AAC) 4-2 as they opened the spring season at the Hamlin Tennis Courts in Philadelphia.

Head coach Armando Espinosa, who is in his ninth season, was looking for doubles to be a strong point this spring season. The Cyclones performed well in this area as they took two of three matches from Temple to get the point. The top pairing of Samantha Budai and Maty Cancini beat Khon/Willis 6-3. Karen Alvarez and Regina Espindola were also impressive as they downed the pairing of Abdurakhimova/Karina 6-3.

Singles play doomed Iowa State from the beginning against the Owls. Regina Espindola was the bright spot for the Cyclones, winning her match over Nussaume 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Iowa State will look to rebound against Villanova, tomorrow at noon Central Time, and against Lehigh on Sunday at 10 a.m., CT. Both matches will take place in Bethlehem, Pa.

Follow @CycloneTEN to get the latest updates on Cyclone tennis throughout the weekend.

Singles: (Order of finish 1, 4, 3, 2, 6)

1. Alina Abdurakhimova (TU) def. Maty Cancini 6-1, 6-2

2. Monet Willis (TU) def. Erin Freeman (ISU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2

3. Regina Espindola (ISU) def. Anais Nussaume 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

4. Yana Khon (TU) def. Margarita Timakova (ISU) 6-2, 6-4

5. Dina Karina (TU) vs. Annabella Bonadonna (ISU) 3-6, 6-5 (DNF)

6. Mariana Bedon (TU) def. Karen Alvarez (ISU) 6-4, 6-4

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

1. Samantha Budai/Maty Cancini (ISU) def. Khon/Willis (TU) 6-3

2. Nussaume/Bedon (TU) def. Annabella Bonadonna/Margarita Timakova (ISU) 6-3

3. Karen Alvarez/Regina Espindola (ISU) def. Abdurakhimova/Karina (TU) 6-3

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Players Mentioned

Karen Alvarez

Annabella Bonadonna

Samantha Budai

Maty Cancini

Regina Espindola

Erin Freeman

Margarita Timakova

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