Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — Jan. 2017 | Weekly Notes — Week 1 (PDF)
THIS WEEK FOR THE HAWKEYES
The University of Iowa women’s tennis team opens the 2017 season against the University of Central Florida on Sunday at noon (CT) in Orlando, Florida.
QUOTING @SashaSchmid
“I’m looking forward to starting our season this weekend. It’s exciting to get out there and compete as a team for the first time. UCF is a very good program, and it’s a great first test for us.”
TAKING ON THE KNIGHTS
Sunday’s match will mark the first time these two schools have met in program history. The schools will meet at the USTA National Campus, the new home for Central Florida women’s tennis. Sunday’s match is the first ever women’s college tennis match at a facility that offers “unparalleled playing, training, and education experiences.”
DEADLY DOUBLES WITH DOUGLAS
University of Iowa junior Zoe Douglas has been the common denominator on Iowa’s top doubles team. Douglas and junior Anastasia Reimchen were 7-5 last season and reached as high as No. 49 in the country. Their biggest win of the season was a 6-2 victory over Ohio State’s third-ranked Miho Kawase and Anna Sanford. Douglas and Reimchen opened the fall season ranked No. 45, but they did not see court time together. Instead, Douglas put together an 11-5 record with freshman Elise van Heuvelen. Douglas has a 39-29 career record in doubles.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMER
Elise van Heuvelen joins the University of Iowa women’s tennis team as the only freshman on the team. van Heuvelen, a native of Seaford, East Sussex, England made it to the National School Championships in 2014 and 2015 with an undefeated record in singles and doubles. The freshman also gained world-ranking points at Eastbourne in 2015 and in Surbiton in 2016. In her first fall season, van Heuvelen went 9-3 in singles play and 11-5 in doubles.
WELCOMW BACK SASHA
Former University of Iowa student-athlete and assistant coach Sasha Schmid was named head coach of the UI women’s tennis program on July 29. Schmid, a four-year letterwinner from 1992-96 was the Hawkeyes’ team MVP in 1996. She was an assistant coach at Iowa from 1997-1999, helping the Hawkeyes reach the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history, a top 25 national ranking, and a berth in the NCAA sweet 16. Schmid returns to Iowa with 15 years of head coaching experience, including 10 years at Stetson University (2002-11) and five seasons at the University of Missouri (2012-16). Her Tiger teams were ranked nationally in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016 while competing in both the Big XII and SEC.
BECOME A FAN
Fans can follow the Iowa women’s tennis team at facebook.com and via twitter
@Iowa_Tennis. Live results from this weekend are available on the Iowa women’s tennis schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
