ATHENS, Georgia — The University of Iowa women’s team fell to Mississippi State, 4-1, in the first day of the ITA Kickoff Weekend on Friday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The loss was the Hawkeyes’ first of the young 2022 season, falling to 2-1 overall.
Senior Michelle Bacalla and freshman Barbora Pokorna won their doubles match (6-2) at No. 3, but the Bulldogs recorded wins on courts one (6-4) and two (6-2) to capture the doubles point.
In singles action, freshman Marisa Schmidt bounced No. 50 Emmanouela Antonaki in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) at No. 2. Vipasha Mehra (6-1, 6-2) and Samantha Gillas (6-0, 6-3) lost their matches on courts four and six, respectively. Senior Samantha Mannix was outlasted by No. 67 in three sets (3-6, 7-5, 6-3) to clinch the match for undefeated Mississippi State (4-0). Bacalla was in the third set (6-2, 4-6, 5-5) and Pokorna in the second set (3-6, 2-2) when their respective matches went unfinished.
Sophomore All-American Alexa Noel did not compete on Friday due to injury.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID
“We were looking forward to competing today and learning more about our team. We had a good test today with Mississippi State. Although it is disappointing to lose, I think I have a better sense of our team. We were competitive and had chances in some matches where we could have pulled away but didn’t. That is an area where we will need to improve throughout the season. Now, we regroup and get ready for another tough match tomorrow.”
UP NEXT
Iowa continues day two of ITA Kickoff weekend in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday against North Florida at 9 a.m. (CT) inside Dan Magill Tennis Complex. Follow along with live stats at bit.ly/3g8wWDU.
Mississippi State 4, Iowa 1
Singles:
1. #67 Magda Adaloglou (MSU) def. Samantha Mannix (UI): 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
2. Marisa Schmidt (UI) def. #50 Emmanouela Antonaki (MSU): 6-3, 6-4
3. Michelle Bacalla (UI) vs. Tamara Racine (MSU): 6-2, 4-6, 5-5, unfinished
4. Chloe Cirotte (MSU) def. Vipasha Mehra (UI): 6-1, 6-2
5. Barbora Pokorna (UI) vs. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU): 3-6, 2-2, unfinished
6. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) def. Samantha Gillas (UI): 6-0, 6-3
Doubles:
1. Emmanouela Antonaki/Racine (MSU) def. Schmidt/Gillas (UI): 6-4
2. Adaloglou/Cirotte (MSU) def. Mannix/Mehra (UI): 6-2
3. Bacalla/Pokorna (UI) def. Tagliente/Falceto (MSU): 6-2
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,2,6,1)