Iowa City, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team defeated Minnesota on Sunday, 5-2, inside the Hawkeye Recreation and Tennis Complex.
Iowa lost the doubles point but rallied to improve to 8-4 in the Big Ten Conference.
Elise van Heuvelen and Samantha Gillas defeated Ekin Ercetin and Juliet Zhang, 6-3 at the No. 2 spot to open a lead at doubles, but the Gophers battled back in the last two matches to take the 1-0 lead.
Alexa Noel and Samantha Mannix fell to Rachel Hanford and Dalila Said, 6-4, at the No. 1 spot. Zeynab Sarioglan and River Hart defeated Vipasha Mehra and Danielle Bauers, 6-4, at the No. 3 spot to give the Gophers a 1-0 lead heading into singles.
The Hawkeyes opened singles with a three-game win streak. No. 97 Noel won in straight sets, defeating Rachel Hanford, 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 1 spot to tie the match, 1-1. Mannix kept things rolling with a win over Delila Said, 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 3 spot, and Gillas toughed out a three-set match to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 against Lucia de Santa Ana at the No. 4 spot.
Minnesota’s Zeyreb Sarioglan battled back to defeat Mehra in three-sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 at the No. 6 spot to make it 3-2.
Michelle Bacalla clinched the match after coming back from losing the first set to defeat River Hart, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 5 spot. Van Heuvelen won a three-set match against Ekin Ercetin at the No. 2 spot, 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 to give Iowa the win, 5-2.
QUOTING @SASHASCHMID
“Coming into this weekend I was feeling great about doubles. On one hand it’s tough and disappointing to drop the doubles but on the other hand I think we proved something to ourselves with being able to come back and not having to rely on it.
“We are getting to the place where we understand every match is going to be tough and challenging and we are accepting that, and to understand that no matter who you play on any given day the game will be tight.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return home for one match against Nebraska on Sunday, March 28 at 11 a.m. (CT). Live scores and video can be found on Iowa women’s tennis schedule page.
“Nebraska is a great team, and they are having a great season,” said Schmid. “It is going to be a battle, and we are looking forward to having them here. It is our final home match of the year, and it is senior day, so a lot to look forward too.”
No. 49 Iowa 5, Minnesota 2
March 21, 2021 | 3 p.m. | Iowa City, Iowa | Hawkeye Recreation Tennis Complex
SINGLES
- #97 Alexa Noel (IA) def. Rachel Hanford (M): 6-1, 6-1
- Elise van Heuvelen Treadwell (IA) def. Ekin Ercetin (M): 7-6, 4-6, 6-1
- Samantha Mannix (IA) def. Delila Said (M): 6-3, 6-3
- Samantha Gillas (IA) def. Lucia de Santa Ana (M): 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
- Michelle Bacalla (IA) def. River Hart (M): 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
- Zeyreb Sarioglan (M) def. Vipasha Mehra (IA): 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
DOUBLES
- Hanford/Said (M) def. Noel/Mannix (IA): 6-4
- van Heuvelen/Gillas (IA) def. Ercetin/Zhang (M): 6-3
- Sarioglan/Hart (M) def. Bauers/Mehra (IA): 6-4
Order of Finish: Doubles: (2,1,3); Singles: (1,3,4,6,5,2)
