CARY, N.C. – The University of Iowa women’s tennis team kicked off its fall season at the ITA Women’s All-American Championships, winning three matches Saturday at Cary Tennis Park.
In singles play, senior Marisa Schmidt recorded Iowa’s first victory of the day, defeating Na Dong of Baylor in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. She advances to the Round of 64, where she will face Baylor’s Xinyi Nong on Sunday.
The Hawkeyes also won two doubles matches. Schmidt and junior Daianne Hayashida edged Elisa Rigazio and Lorie Lemongo of Drexel in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1. Senior Barbora Pokorna and Tereza Dejnozkova continued with a tiebreaker win against Colombia’s Gayathri Krishnan and Sophia Strugnell, 4-6, 7-5 (10-5).
In singles play, Pokorna fell to Carmen Andreea Herea of Texas, 6-2, 6-0 and Dejnozkova dropped her match against Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo of Texas, 6-2, 6-4, in the Round of 128.
Both doubles teams will compete in the Round of 16 on Sunday.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH SASHA BOROS-SCHMID
“It was great to get back on the court and see the team compete. I was so proud of the way they started the season today; every match was hard fought. Every player here is a competitive player, so I really thought we learned a lot today. Winning both doubles at the end of the day was a great way to finish out the day and we’re looking forward to following it up with a good day tomorrow.”
Singles – Round of 128
Carmen Andreea Herea (Texas) def. Barbora Pokora (Iowa): 6-2, 6-0
Marisa Schmidt (Iowa) def. Na Dong (Baylor): 6-4, 6-1
Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo (Texas) def. Tereza Dejnozkova (Iowa): 6-2, 6-4
Doubles – Round of 64
Marisa Schmidt/Daianne Hayashida (Iowa) def. Elisa Rigazio/Lorie Lemongo (Drexel): 6-2, 6-1
Barbora Pokorna/ Tereza Dejnozkova (Iowa) def. Gayathri Krishnan/Sophia Strugnell (Colombia): 4-6, 7-5 (10-5)