No. 14 Iowa State takes down No. 9 Vanderbilt

SEATTLE – Chie Kezuka prevailed in a third-set tiebreaker at No. 6 singles as No. 14 Iowa State beat No. 9 Vanderbilt, 4-3, to advance to the quarterfinals of the ITA Indoor National Championships. It marks the highest ranked opponent defeated in school history. The Cyclones (7-1) have now won their last five matches, with three coming against Top 20 opponents.

With the win today, head coach Boomer Saia is now tied for third all-time in program history for all-time wins with 52.

"There aren't many things more inspiring in this world than this team! Their ability to fight, their belief in each other, and their response to adversity is what being a Cyclone is all about," Saia said. "You can't measure how proud I am of our team - I am a firm believer that you win with people and this team is special!"

HOW IT HAPPENED
With the match tied at 3-3, senior Chie Kezuka proved clutch once again. Kezuka dropped the opening set to Vandy's Amy Stevens, 6-3. Kezuka battled back and won the second set, 6-3, sending the match to a deciding third set. Kezuka trailed 4-3 in the third but rallied to go up 5-4. The match tetered back-and-forth before dominated the third-set tiebreak with a 7-3 win, sending the Cyclones into celebration mode.

Iowa State opened the day with back-to-back doubles wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 spot to earn the doubles point and take a, 1-0, lead in the team score.

Sophomore Ange Oby Kajuru and newcomer Xinyi Nong were the first to finish at the No. 2 spot, defeating Vanderbilt's Bridget Stammel and Marcella Cruz, 6-3. The duo improved to 2-0 while playing together this season.

Next to finish, clinching the doubles point for the Cyclones, was senior Thasaporn Naklo and sophomore Anna Supapitch Kuearum. At the No. 1 spot, the duo took down Holly Staff and Anna Ross, 6-2, to win their 11^th-straight match together this season.

Finishing first in singles play for Iowa State was Kajuru. At the No. 2 spot, she would make quick work of No. 66 Ross, 6-1, 6-0, and winning her ninth-straight singles match and seventh career singles match against a ranked opponent.

The ninth-ranked Commodores went on to win the next two matches, tying the team score, 2-2.

Despite winning the first set, No. 42 Naklo lost to No. 34 Mohr for the second time this season, 6-1, 1-6, 1-6. Sofia Cabezas struggled to get anything going against Lee, dropping her match, 4-6, 3-6.

Supapitch Kuearum dropped her match against No. 85 Staff, 6-4, 3-6, 1-6 to put Vanderbilt up, 3-2, in the team score.

After struggling early at the No. 4 spot, Miska Kadleckova delivered, tying the team score at 3-3. Kadleckova defeated No. 27 Stammel, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. It is Kadleckova's 10^th-straight singles victory and sixth against a ranked opponent this season.

UP NEXT
The 14^th ranked Cyclones will face the winner of No. 1 Texas and Washington tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. CT.

SINGLES RESULTS
Order of Finish: 2, 5, 1, 3, 4, 6
#1 – No. 34 Célia-Belle Mohr (Vanderbilt) def. No. 42 Thasaporn Naklo (ISU), 1-6, 6-1, 6-1
#2 – No. 53 Ange Oby Kajuru (ISU) def. No. 66 Anna Ross (Vanderbilt) 6-1, 6-0
#3 – No. 85 Holly Staff (Vanderbilt) def. Anna Supapitch Kuearum (ISU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
#4 – No.123 Miska Kadleckova (ISU) def. No. 27 Bridget Stammel (Vanderbilt) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
#5 – Anessa Lee (Vanderbilt) def. Sofia Cabezas (ISU), 6-4, 6-3
#6 – Chie Kezuka (ISU) def. Amy Stevens (Vanderbilt) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3)

DOUBLES RESULTS
Order of Finish: 2, 1
#1 – Naklo/Supapitch Kuearum (ISU) def. Staff/Ross (Vanderbilt) 6-2
#2 - Kajuru/Nong (ISU) def. Cruz/Stammel (Vanderbilt) 6-3
#3 - Kadleckova/Cabezas (ISU) vs. Mohr/Lee (Vanderbilt) 4-4 UF

Players Mentioned

Sofia Cabezas

Miska Kadleckova

Ange Oby Kajuru

Chie Kezuka

Anna Supapitch Kuearum

Thasaporn Naklo

Xinyi Nong