IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team won its opening two matches of the 2022 season, bouncing Marquette and Drake by identical 6-1 scores on Sunday at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex.
In the first match of the day, the Hawkeyes won all three doubles matches to claim the doubles point against Marquette. In singles competition, Iowa notched straight-set victories by Samantha Mannix, (6-2, 6-2) Marisa Schmidt (6-2, 6-2), and Vipasha Mehra (7-5, 6-2). Michelle Bacalla won in a third-set tiebreak (4-6, 6-1, 10-3), while Barbara Pokorna won via forfeit on court six.
Against the Golden Eagles, Iowa registered doubles victories on courts one (7-5) and two (6-2) to earn a 1-0 advantage. Schmidt, a freshman who made her Hawkeye debut, beat Ines Stephani in three sets (3-6, 6-4, 10-6) on court one. Winning in straight sets were Bacalla (6-3, 6-0) won on court three, Mehra (6-3, 7-6) on court four, Samantha Gillas (6-4, 7-5) on court five, and Pokorna (6-1, 6-2) on court six.
Sophomore All-American Alexa Noel did not compete in either match on Sunday due to injury.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID
“It was good to be able to get back out there and compete. We tested some doubles combinations, and we had some moments today where everybody had to get through a few critical moments in their match and I think we did a good job of that. I thought we had some nerves in the morning match, but we played through that. I’m grateful for today’s performances and hopefully we can build on that on Friday when we face a really good Missouri team.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action on Friday against Missouri. The match is set to start at 5 p.m. (CT) inside the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex. Admission is free.
Iowa 6, Marquette 1
Singles:
1. Samantha Mannix (UI) def. Emilija Kojcic (MARQ): 6-2, 6-2
2. Marisa Schmidt (UI) def. Andie Wiese (MARQ): 6-2, 6-2
3. Michelle Bacalla (UI) def. Elisabeth Desmarais (MARQ): 4-6, 6-1, 10-3
4. Vipasha Mehra (UI) def. Lara Kaiser (MARQ): 7-5, 6-2
5. Sarah Badawi (MARQ) def. Samantha Gillas (UI): 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Barbora Pokorna (UI) def. No player (MARQ): forfeit
Doubles:
1. Mannix/Mehra (UI) def. Popovic/Kojcic (MARQ): 6-2
2. Gillas/Schmidt (UI) def. Desmarais/Kaiser (MARQ): 6-4
3. Pokorna/Bacalla (UI) def. Badawi/Wiese (MARQ): 6-2
Iowa 6, Drake 1
Singles:
1. Marisa Schmidt (UI) def. Ines Stephani (DRAKE): 3-6, 6-4, 10-6
2. Liza Petushkova (DRAKE) def. Samantha Mannix (UI): 7-6, 6-4
3. Michelle Bacalla (UI) def. Mille Haagensen (DRAKE): 6-3, 6-0
4. Vipasha Mehra (UI) def. Darinka Stepan (DRAKE): 6-2, 7-6
5. Samantha Gillas (UI) def. Kelsey Neville (DRAKE): 6-4, 7-5
6. Barbora Pokorna (UI) def. Rebecca Ehn (DRAKE): 6-1, 6-2
Doubles:
1. Schmidt/Gillas (UI) def. Petushkova/Neville (DRAKE): 7-5
2. Mehra/Mannix (UI) def. Haagensen/Stepan (DRAKE): 6-2
3. Bacalla/Pokorna (UI) vs. Stephani/Lee (DRAKE): 5-5, unfinished