Pokorna Clinches Iowa's 4-3 Win Over Kentucky

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Senior Barbora Pokorna’s three-set, come-from-behind victory lifted the University of Iowa women’s tennis team to a 4-3 victory over Kentucky on Friday afternoon at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center.

The win moves the Hawkeyes’ record to 2-0 this season.

After dropping the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (4), Pokorna posted convincing wins in sets two and three over the Wildcats’ Asuncion Jadue.  She clinched the Iowa win with consecutive 6-1, 6-2 set victories to improve to 2-0 this season.

The Hawkeyes got off to a strong start in the dual by claiming the doubles point with victories on courts two and three. Marisa Schmidt and Pia Kranholdt opened with a 6-1 win over Ellie Myers and Tess Bucher at No. 3 before Daianne Hayashida and Nikita Vishwase clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 finish over Zoe Hammond and Elliee Eades at No. 2.

The match at No. 1 between Barbora Pokorna and Tereza Dejnozkova and Lizzy Stevens and Julia Zhu was left unfinished with the score tied at 4-4. 

In singles, Kentucky captured the first match on court three to tie the dual at one before the Hawkeyes responded with wins on courts one and two to regain the lead. No. 75 Hayashidabattled back from a 0-3 deficit in the second set to secure a straight set win over Hammond, while No. 89 Dejnozkova followed with straight set win over Zhu, 7-6 (1), 6-1.

After Kentucky fought back to tie the match at three with wins at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions, Pokorna came through in the clutch to send Iowa to the victory.

QUOTING HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID 

"It was a great college battle today against a good Kentucky team. I think for the second match of the season, to have it come down to a three-all clincher is a great experience. I was proud of our senior. She competed and Pokorna has been in those situations for us. She handled herself and was composed and fought really hard, setting a great example for the team. Hopefully we can recover and we’re looking forward to another great battle on the road against Kansas on Sunday." 

UP NEXT 

The Hawkeyes will travel to Lawrence, Kansas, to take on the Jayhawks on Sunday at noon (CT) at the Jayhawk Tennis Center. 

Iowa 4, Kentucky 3 

Singles Results

No. 1 – No. 75 Daianne Hayashida (UI) def.  Zoe Hammond (UK), 6-3, 6-3

No. 2 – No. 89 Tereza Dejnozkova dec. Julia Zhu (UK), 7-6 (1), 6-1 

No. 3 – Lizzy Stevens (UK) def. Marisa Schmidt (UI), 6-1, 7-5 

No. 4 – Ellie Eades (UK) def. Nikita Vishwase (UI), 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 

No. 5 – Tess Bucher (UK) def. Pia Kranholdt (UI), 7-5, 6-3 

No. 6 – Barbora Pokorna (UI) def. Asuncion Jadue (UK), 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-2 

Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2, 5, 4, 6 

Doubles Results 

No. 1 – Pokorna/Dejnozkova (UI) vs. Lizzy Stevens/Julia Zhu (UK), 4-4 (DNF) 

No. 2 – Hayashida/Vishwase (UI) def. Hammond/Eades (UK), 6-3 

No. 3 – Schmidt/Kranholdt (UI) def. Ellie Myers/Bucher (UK), 6-1 

Order of Finish: 3, 2