IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team defeated Missouri, 5-2, on Tuesday inside the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. The win improves the Hawkeyes’ overall record to 4-1.
Senior Samantha Mannix and sophomore Vipasha Mehra captured the first doubles win of the day (6-2) at the No. 2 spot, but the Tigers recorded wins on courts one (6-3) and three (6-3) to take the doubles point.
In singles action, the Hawkeyes recorded the first three wins, taking a 3-1 lead. No. 118 freshman Marisa Schmidt continued her success in singles, defeating Bronte Murgett (6-4, 6-4), at the No. 1 position. Mehra bounced Elys Ventura (6-3, 6-3) on court four, and freshman Barbora Pokorna swept Romary Cardenas Rifk (6-3, 6-1) at No. 5.
Missouri recorded its only singles win at the No. 3 spot. Senior Michelle Bacalla fell to Ellie Wright (7-5, 6-3). Senior Samantha Gillas battled on court six and came away with a three-set victory (6-3, 3-6, 6-3) over Vazquez Pongruber to secure the team win for Iowa. Mannix finished the match on court two with a back-and-forth match versus Gabriela Martinez and ultimately prevailed (6-3, 4-6, 7-6).
Sophomore All-American Alexa Noel did not compete on Tuesday due to injury.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID
“We had a pretty long layoff between competing, so it was good for us to get back and compete. I felt like we kind of looked like a team who hasn’t competed in 16-17 days. For us to get back out there and in some competitive situations will help us. I’m proud of the team for getting through a match today and we have a lot of great opponents ahead.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to Urbandale, Iowa, on Friday to take on Iowa State in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series match at 5 p.m. (CT) inside the Mckee Indoor Tennis Complex.
Iowa 5, Missouri 2
Singles
1.#118 Marisa Schmidt (UI) def. Bronte Murgett (MIZZOU): 6-4, 6-4
2.Samantha Mannix (UI) def. Gabriela Martinez (MIZZOU): 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6)
3.Ellie Wright (MIZZOU) def. Michelle Bacalla (UI): 7-5, 6-3
4.Vipasha Mehra (UI) def. Elys Ventura (MIZZOU): 6-3, 6-3
5.Barbora Pokorna (UI) def. Romary Cardenas Rifk (MIZZOU): 6-3, 6-1
6.Samantha Gillas (UI) def. V. Vazquez Pongruber (MIZZOU): 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Doubles
1. Martinez/Murgett (MIZZOU) def. Schmidt/Gillas (UI): 6-3
2. Mannix/Mehra (UI) def. Pongruber/Ventura (MIZZOU): 6-2
3. Wright/Cardenas Rifk (MIZZOU) def. Pokorna/Bacalla (UI): 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,5,1,3,6,2)