IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team, ranked No. 58 nationally, defeated No. 62 Maryland, 4-3, in its home finale on Sunday at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreational Complex.
The Hawkeyes (11-8, 6-3) rallied for the team win after dropping the doubles point. On court two, Marisa Schmidt/Daianne Hayashida fell to 66th-ranked Cadar/Brumfield, 6-1. Barbora Pokorna/Pia Kranholdt lost their match on court three to Bach/McColgan, 6-4. Sam Mannix/Vipasha Mehra were leading, 6-5, over Perez mur/Miranda at No. 1, but their match went unfinished.
Iowa, who finished its home schedule 7-2, came back in singles competition securing wins on courts one, two, three, and five to win for the sixth time in eight matches. Mannix led things off on court one with a quick straight-set victory against Marta Perez Mur (6-2, 6-4). On court six, Kranholdt came up short, falling to Francesca Feodorov (3-6, 4-6). Hayashida followed on court three with another straight-set win against Selma Cadar (6-1, 7-5). On court four, Mehra battled into a third set against Kallista Liu, but fell short (6-2, 1-6, 6-3).
With Iowa trailing, 3-2, the match came down to Pokorna and Schmidt. Pokorna tied things up with a three-set win over Hannah McColgan on court five (6-3, 2-6, 6-3). Schmidt came through to secure Iowa’s sixth win in eight matches with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 triumph over Minorka Miranda on court two.
Iowa is 4-1 in its last five matches against ranked opponents, including winning its third straight against a ranked foe in Iowa City.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID
“I am really proud of our team today. It was a hard-fought victory on Senior Day. It means a lot to have a good memory and to fight hard. Maryland was a tremendous battle. We had to battle back and be tough in singles. I am proud of Marisa for being in that situation and to be brave, play aggressive, and believe in herself. It was a great weekend. Now, we have to regroup and get ready for our last weekend of conference play on the road.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will travel to the state of Illinois next weekend for their last regular season matches. Iowa will play Northwestern on Saturday (Noon CT) in Evanston and Illinois on Sunday in Champaign (noon CT).
RESULT
#58 Iowa 4, #62 Maryland 3
SINGLES
1. Samantha Mannix (UI) def. Marta Perez Mur (UMD): 6-2, 6-4
2. Marisa Schmidt (UI) def. Minorka Miranda (UMD): 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
3. Daianne Hayashida (UI) def. Selma Cadar (UMD): 6-1, 7-5
4. Kallista Liu (UMD) def. Vipasha Mehra (UI): 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
5. Barbora Pokorna (UI) def. Hannah McColgan (UMD): 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
6. Francesca Feodorov (UMD) def. Pia Kranholdt (UI): 6-3, 6-4
DOUBLES
1. Mannix/Mehra (UI) vs. Perez Mur/Miranda (UMD): 6-5 unfinished
2. #66 Cadar/Brumfield (UMD) def. Schmidt/Hayashida (UI): 6-1
3. Bach/McColgan (UMD) def. Pokorna/Kranholdt (UI): 6-4
Order of Finish: Singles (1,6,3,4,5,2); Doubles (2,3)