Hawkeyes Sweep Home Opener

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s tennis team notched wins against Memphis and Northern Illinois in its home debut on Friday at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.

The Hawkeyes started the day off with a sweep over Memphis, 4-0. In doubles, Iowa captured wins on No. 1 and 2. Sophomore Daianne Hayashida and junior Marisa Schmidt captured the first win on court two over Emily Meyer and Alice Amendola, 6-3. Senior Vipasha Mehra and freshman Chelsea Bluestein secured the point, downing Camila Soares and Monique Woog, 6-3.

In singles, the Hawkeyes made quick work in three straight set wins at No. 1, 3 and 6.

On court six, Pia Kranholdt captured the first singles win of the morning over Micah Pierce, 6-2, 6-1. Bluestein followed with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Emily Meyer on court three before Hayashida, ranked 85th nationally, sealed the win by downing Leonie Moeller, 6-4, 6-4.

The Hawkeyes completed the doubleheader sweep with a 5-2 victory over the Huskies in the nightcap.

After dropping the doubles point, Iowa won five of the six singles matches to record its third victory of the season.

Schmidt started it off at the two line with a win over Diana Lukyanova, 6-1, 6-0. Mehra gave Iowa a 2-1 lead, downing Jenna Horne, 6-4, 6-0 and Pokorna followed with a 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 4 over Isabella Righi.

Hayashida was quick to follow on court one, defeating Erika Dimitriev, 6-0, 6-1, before Bluestein notched Iowa’s final win at No. 3, downing Nataly Ninova, 6-3, 6-4.

Kranholdt battled to a third set in a tiebreaker against Reagan Welch, 6-4, 2-6, 1-0.

QUOTING HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID
“We were happy to be back on our home courts, and we appreciate everybody that came out and supported us today. I was happy with the team’s win this morning, then
we regrouped and stumbled in the doubles point tonight, but we were able to regain the momentum in singles. It was a good long day of tennis, and hoping we can build up the momentum from today and get ready for Iowa State on Friday.”

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will return to action Feb. 16, traveling to Des Moines, Iowa, for an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup against Iowa State.

RESULTS
Iowa 4, Memphis 0

SINGLES
No. 1 – #85 Daianne Hayashida (UI) def. Leonie Moeller (MU): 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 – Marisa Schmidt (UI) vs. Camila Soares (MU): 1-6, 7-5, unfinished
No. 3 – Chelsea Bluestein (UI) def. Emily Meyer (MU): 6-3, 6-2
No. 4 – Barbora Pokorna (UI) vs. Monique Woog (MU): 6-2, 4-6, 1-1, unfinished
No. 5 – Vipasha Mehra (UI) vs Alice Amendola (MU): 5-7, 5-4, unfinished
No. 6 – Pia Kranholdt (UI) def. Micah Pierce (MU): 6-2, 6-1

DOUBLES
No. 1 – Mehra/Bluestein (UI) def. Soares/Woog (MU): 6-3
No. 2 – Hayashida/Schmidt (UI) def. Meyer/Amendola (MU): 6-3
No. 3 – Pokorna/Kranholdt (UI) vs. Grosmann/Moeller (MU): 5-4, unfinished

Order of Finish: Singles (6,3,1), Doubles (2,1)

Iowa 5, Northern Illinois 2

SINGLES
No. 1 — #85 Daianne Hayashida (UI) def. Erika Dimitriev (NIU): 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 — Marisa Schmidt (UI) def. Diana Lukyanova (NIU): 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 — Chelsea Bluestein (UI) def. Nataly Ninova (NIU): 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 — Barbora Pokorna (UI) def. Isabella Righi (NIU): 6-0, 6-1
No. 5 — Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Pia Kranholdt (UI): 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (12-10)
No. 6 — Vipasha Mehra (UI) def. Jenna Horne (NIU): 6-4, 6-0

DOUBLES
No. 1 — Dimitriev/Ninova (NIU) def. Bluestein/Mehra (UI): 6-4
No. 2 — Lukyanova/Righi (NIU) def. Hayashida/Schmidt (UI): 6-1
No. 3 — Pokorna/Kranholdt (UI) def. Welch/Horne (NIU): 6-1

Order of Finish: Singles (2,6,4,1,3,5), Doubles (3,1,2)