No. 52 Iowa Downs Michigan State

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The 52nd-ranked University of Iowa women's tennis team opened Big Ten Conference play with a 4-1 victory over Michigan State on Friday at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.  

The victory pushed Iowa’s record to 7-3 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play.

The Hawkeyes took control of the match early by winning the doubles point. On court three, Pia Kranholdt and Barbora Pokorna defeated Issey Purser and Oriana Parkins-Godwin, 6-2. In a hard-fought battle at No. 1, Tereza Dejnozkova and Nikita Vishwase triumphed over Liisa Vehviläinen and Ellie Blackford, 6-4, to clinch the point.

On court two, Daianne Hayashida and Marisa Schmidt were tied 4-4 against Matilde Morais and Hanna Tsitavets when the match was called.

In singles play, Iowa continued to build its momentum. Kranholdt quickly gave Iowa a 2-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-0 straight set win over Tsitavets on court five. Schmidt added to the lead with a 6-4, 7-5 victory against Amara Brahmbhatt at No. 3. Michigan State responded with a win from Vehviläinen over No. 84 Dejnozkova (6-3, 3-6, 6-1) on court one.

Iowa’s Vishwase sealed the match with a 7-6 (8-6), 0-6, 6-1 victory over Purser.

The remaining matches were left unfinished with Iowa clinching its fourth point. At No. 4, Pokorna was leading Morais 6-1, 3-6, 5-2. On court two, Hayashida and Blackford were in a 4-6, 6-4, 2-3 tight contest.

QUOTING HEAD COACH SASHA BOROS 
“I'm proud of the team’s hard-fought effort tonight to secure the first conference win in our home opener against a competitive Michigan State team. It was a hard-fought battle, especially in singles, and I’m proud we found four points. We’re looking forward to hosting Michigan on Sunday." 

UP NEXT 
The Hawkeyes will finish the weekend by hosting No. 4 Michigan on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. (CT). 

No. 52 Iowa 4, Michigan State 1 

Singles Results 
No. 1 - Liisa Vehviläinen (MSU) def. No. 84 Tereza Dejnozkova (UI), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 
No. 2 - Daianne Hayashida (UI) vs. Ellie Blackford (MSU), 4-6, 6-4, 2-3 (unfinished) 
No. 3 - Marisa Schmidt (UI) def. Amara Brahmbhatt (MSU), 6-4, 7-5 
No. 4 - Barbora Pokorna (UI) vs. Matilde Morais (MSU), 6-1, 3-6, 5-2 (unfinished) 
No. 5 - Pia Kranholdt (UI) def. Hanna Tsitavets (MSU), 6-2, 6-0 
No. 6 - Nikita Vishwase (UI) def. Issey Purser (MSU), 7-6 (8-6), 0-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: 5, 3, 1, 6

Doubles Results 
No. 1 - Dejnozkova / Vishwase (UI) def. Vehviläinen / Blackford (MSU), 6-4 
No. 2 - Hayashida / Schmidt (UI) vs. Morais / Tsitavets (MSU), 4-4 (unfinished) 
No. 3 - Pokorna / Kranholdt (UI) def. Purser / Parkins-Godwin (MSU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1