WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana — The 45th-ranked University of Iowa women’s tennis team lost to No. 36 Illinois in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Championships Friday evening at the Schwartz Tennis Center.
Iowa (13-10) won the doubles point for the 11th time this season, recording wins on courts one and two. Samantha Mannix/Marisa Schmidt defeated Casati/Heuser (7-5) on court one while Vipasha Mehra/Anya Lamoreaux beat Frazier/Yeah (6-2) on court two. Barbora Pokorna/Pia Kranhodlt were leading 6-5 on court three when their match was abandoned once the point was won.
Illinois (18-8) scored the first three points in singles, before the Hawkeyes posted their first singles victory. Schmidt fell on court two (6-1, 6-4), Lamoreaux lost on court six (6-4, 6-2) and Mehra was defeated on court four (6-0, 7-5). Kranholdt was victorious on court five (6-4, 7-6), but the Fighting Illini clinched the match when Mannix lost in three sets on court one (2-6, 6-3, 6-3).
Friday was the 13th time in its last 16 matches that Iowa faced a ranked opponent.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID
“This was a disappointing, hard-fought loss that really hurts. Our team gave it their all and I am proud of how far we have come. We have a lot to be proud of, especially in terms of how much we improved from January until now.
“We will accept a bid to play in the NIT. We look forward to continuing in that postseason experience. We will travel home, regroup, get healthy and prepare to play more tennis in May.”
RESULT
#36 Illinois 4, #45 Iowa 2
SINGLES
1. #91 Ashley Yeah (IU) def. Samantha Mannix (UI): 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Megan Heuser (ILL) def. Marisa Schmidt (UI): 6-1, 6-4
3. Josie Frazier (ILL) vs. Barbora Pokorna (UI): 6-3, 5-4, unfinished
4. Kasie Treiber (ILL) def. Vipasha Mehra (UI): 6-0, 7-5
5. Pia Kranholdt (UI) def. Violeta Martinez (ILL): 6-4, 7-6(3)
6. Kida Ferrari (ILL) def. Anya Lamoreaux (UI): 6-4, 6-2
DOUBLES
1. Mannix/Schmidt (UI) def. Casati/Heuser (ILL): 7-5
2. Mehra/Lamoreaux (UI) def. Frazier/Yeah (ILL): 6-2
3. Martinez/Ferrari (ILL) vs. Pokorna/Kranholdt (UI): 6-5, unfinished
Order of Finish: Singles (2,6,4,5,1); Doubles (2,1)