ATHENS, Georgia — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team beat North Florida, 4-3, on Saturday at the ITA Kickoff Weekend, improving its overall record to 3-1.
Iowa recorded its first ITA Kickoff Weekend victory since a 4-2 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Cristi on Feb. 1, 2010 in Waco, Texas.
Iowa earned the doubles point with victories on courts two and three. Senior Samantha Mannix and sophomore Vipasha Mehra were victorious (6-4) at No. 2, while senior Michelle Bacalla and freshman Barbora Pokorna also won by the score of 6-4 at No. 3. Freshman Marissa Schmidt and senior Samantha Gillas lost 6-1 on court one.
Each team won three singles matches. The Hawkeyes registered wins on courts 4-6, while the Ospreys won on courts 1-3. Pokorna won in three sets at No. 4 over Anslee Long (6-4, 1-6, 6-2).
Schmidt fell to No. 32 Kit Gulihur (6-1, 6-1), Mannix was edged in three sets (6-3, 3-6, 6-4) by Summer Yardley on court two, and Bacalla fell to Annabelle Davis (6-0, 6-4) at No. 3.
The outcome of the match was determined by results on courts five and six. Trailing 3-2, Mehra bounced Isabel Oliveira in straight sets (6-4, 6-1) on court five and Gillas clinched the Hawkeye victory with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Sean Lodzki (6-2, 6-3) at the No. 6 spot.
Sophomore All-American Alexa Noel did not compete on Saturday due to injury.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID
“I am proud of the team’s effort today. It was a hard-fought match. North Florida is a great team. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 last year. It meant a lot to the team to rebound from yesterday’s disappointment and battle hard in every position. It was a total team effort today. It is always a step forward for your program to come away with a win after the competitive ITA Kickoff Weekend.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes remain on the road traveling to Lawrence, Kansas, on Friday, Feb. 4, to face Kansas. The match is set to start at 5 p.m. (CT) inside the JayHawks Tennis Center.
Iowa 4, North Florida 3
Singles:
1. #32 Kit Gulihur (UNF) def. Marisa Schmidt (UI): 6-1, 6-1
2. Summer Yardley (UNF) def. Samantha Mannix (UI): 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
3. Annabelle Davis (UNF) def. Michelle Bacalla (UI): 6-4, 6-0
4. Barbora Pokorna (UI) def. Anslee Long (UNF): 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
5. Vipasha Mehra (UI) def. Isabel Oliveira (UNF): 6-4, 6-1
6. Samantha Gillas (UI) def. Sean Lodzki (UNF): 6-2, 6-3
Doubles:
1. Gulihur/Oliveira (UNF) def. Schmidt/Gillas (UI): 6-1
2. Mannix/Mehra (UI) def. Yardley/Long (UNF): 6-4
3. Bacalla/Pokorna (UI) def. Melilo/Nash (UNF): 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,3,4,2,5,6)