Boros Becomes Winningest Coach in Iowa History

MINNEAPOLIS – Sasha Boros became the all-time winningest head coach in University of Iowa tennis history when the 46th-ranked Hawkeyes edged Minnesota, 4-3, on Friday at the Baseline Tennis Center.   

The victory was No. 113 of Boros’ Iowa tenure and it moved the team’s record to 11-12 overall and 5-7 in Big Ten action.

Iowa opened the match by securing the doubles point. At No. 3, the Gophers’ Nora Knezevic and Mia Liepert defeated Nikita Vishwase and Pia Kranholdt, 6-0, before the Hawkeyes evened things up when Mia Mack and Tereza Dejnozkova earned a 6-2 victory over Jesselle Ante and Sofia Pinto at the one line.

The doubles point was secured on court two, where Daianne Hayashida and Sally Xu defeated Anlin Xie and Arina Valitova, 6-3.

In singles play, Dejnozkova led Liepert 5-0 at No. 2 before Minnesota retired the match due to injury. The Golden Gophers responded with two straight-set wins to tie the match. On court six, Yinong Ma defeated Xu, 6-4, 6-0 and at the five line, Xie posted a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Kranholdt.

The Hawkeyes took a 3-2 lead with No. 67 Mack defeating Ante, 7-5, 6-2 on court one beforeMinnesota evened the match again at the three position when Pinto outlasted Vishwase, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

Iowa clinched the match on court three, where Hayashida rallied past Aiva Schmitz, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3.

QUOTING HEAD COACH SASHA BOROS
“This was a hard-fought win. Every match in the Big Ten is competitive and difficult. I’m proud of the fight today by the team, especially by our senior Daianne to be able to clinch the match. 

“This is a really meaningful win for me. It’s such an honor to be able to coach at my alma mater. I love the University of Iowa. I had an incredible coach when I played, Micki Schilling. She meant so much to me and did so much for this program.

“It’s an honor to stand behind the other coaches who have led this program. It’s the resolve of a lot of great players and assistant coaches who have helped with each win. It truly is an honor to coach here.”

UP NEXT
Iowa (11-12, 5-7) will return to action on Sunday, facing No. 29 Wisconsin at 1:30 p.m. (CT) at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison.

No. 46 Iowa 4, Minnesota 3

SINGLES RESULTS
No. 1 - No. 67 Mia Mack (UI) def. Jeselle Ante (MINN): 7-5, 6-2
No. 2 - Tereza Dejnozkova (UI) def. Mia Liepert (MINN): 5-0 (retired)
No. 3 - Daianne Hayashida (UI) def. Aiva Schmitz (MINN): 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 - Sofia Pinto (MINN) def. Nikita Vishwase (UI): 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 
No. 5 - Anlin Xie (MINN) def. Pia Kranholdt (UI): 6-4, 6-0
No. 6 - Yinong Ma (MINN) def. Sally Xu (UI): 6-4, 6-0 
Order of Finish: 2,6,5,1,4,3

DOUBLES
No. 1 - Mack/Dejnozkova (UI) def. Ante/Pinto (MINN): 6-2
No. 2 - Hayashida/Xu (UI) def. Xie/Valitova (MINN): 6-3
No. 3 - Knezevic/Liepert (MINN) def. Vishwase/Kranholdt (UI): 6-0
Order of Finish: 3,1,2