Iowa Plays Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech in Singles

Nov. 5, 2011

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team fell to Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech in singles on Saturday at the Schwartz Tennis Challenge. Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2011 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships. Both schools line-ups featured three players ranked in the ITA preseason singles poll.

“We competed much better today than we did yesterday,” said head coach Katie Dougherty. “We’re playing very good teams and raised our level of play today. We lost some tight matches that came down to experience.”

Iowa lost 6-0 against Vanderbilt. Freshman Shelby Talcott faced Lauren Mira, ranked No. 110 in the ITA preseason singles poll, at the No. 1 position. Talcott pushed Mira to three sets before losing, 6-4, 3-6, 10-5. Talcott dropped to 6-6 this fall. Sophomore Christina Harazin also played a three-set match. Harazin, 4-6 this fall, got beat, 6-2, 4-6, 10-7, by Ashleigh Antal at the No. 5 spot.

Georgia Tech defeated Iowa, 5-0. The Hawkeyes did not compete at the No. 4 position. At the No. 2 spot, freshman Katie Zordani battled Christina Ngo in a three-set match. Ngo, ranked No. 44 in the ITA preseason singles poll, won 7-5, 6-7 (2), 10-3. Zordani is 5-5 this fall.

The Hawkeyes will conclude the hidden dual Schwartz Tennis Challenge on Sunday. Iowa will play Purdue in doubles at 9 a.m. (CT) and Illinois in singles at 2:15 p.m. (CT) at the Schwartz Tennis Center.

Iowa vs. Vanderbilt
1. #110 Lauren Mira (Vanderbilt) def. Shelby Talcott (Iowa), 6-4, 3-6, 10-5
2. Marie Casares (Vanderbilt) def. Katie Zordani (Iowa), 6-0, 6-2
3. #66 Chelsea Preeg (Vanderbilt) def. Ellen Silver (Iowa), 6-2, 6-0
4. Nelly Radeva (Vanderbilt) def. Ally Majercik (Iowa), 6-0, ret.
5. Ashleigh Antal (Vanderbilt) def. Christina Harazin (Iowa), 6-2, 4-6, 10-7
6. #50 Alex Leatu (Vanderbilt) def. Cassandra Escobar (Iowa), 6-3, 6-1

Georgia Tech vs. Iowa
1. #69 Caroline Lilley (GT) def. Shelby Talcott (Iowa), 6-1, 6-1
2. #44 Christina Ngo (GT) def. Katie Zordani (Iowa), 7-5, 6-7 (2), 10-3
3. #124 Lynn Blau (GT) def. Ellen Silver (Iowa), 6-3, 6-2
5. Muriel Wacker (GT) def. Christina Harazin (Iowa), 6-2, 6-1
6. Jasmine Minor (GT) def. Cassandra Escobar (Iowa), 6-4, 6-3