Hawkeyes Finish Impressive Fall Season

Nov. 4, 2004

IOWA CITY, IA –

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The University of Iowa women’s tennis team finished the fall season last week at the ITA Midwest Regionals, where they put up a historic performance.

Sophomore Hillary Mintz advanced all the way to the quarterfinals in singles, becoming only the second Hawkeye to advance that far. The only other Hawkeye to accomplish this feat was Cassie Haas in 2000.

Mintz first defeated Northern Illinois’ Cassie Drake and Michigan’s Leanne Rutherford. She then went on to upset Michigan’s Michelle DaCosta, 6-4, 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinals. Mintz lost a tough battle in the quarterfinal round to Northwestern’s Alexis Prousis, 7-5, 7-5.

Iowa also boasted three singles players and two doubles teams still alive in the round of 16. The only other team to have that many playing was Northwestern, who finished last season ranked 10th in the nation.

Milica Veselinovic advanced from the qualifying bracket to go all the way to the round of 16, finishing with a 4-1 record for the weekend. Meg Racette also advanced to the round of 16, before being defeated by Notre Dame’s Catrina Thompson (6-4, 6-2).

The doubles team of Racette and Mintz was the No. 3 seed in the tournament. They made it to the quarterfinals where they were defeated by eventual champions Brianna Knue and Macall Harkins of Illinois, 8-4.

Veselinovic and Anastasia Zhukova also advanced to the round of 16 in doubles, winning against teams from Northern Illinois and host Minnesota. The duo lost to top-seeded Michelle DaCosta and Kara Delicata of Michigan, 8-2, in the round of 16.

The Hawkeyes will begin the spring season January 21-23, when they host the Hawkeye Invitational.