Hawkeyes Open ITA Regionals with Strong Start in Memphis

Memphis, Tenn. – The University of Iowa Women’s Tennis team opened competition at the ITA Regional Championships on Thursday, seeing action in both singles and doubles.

In the singles qualifying draw, Clare Schaefer stated the day against Iowa State’s Gabriella Kellner but fell 6-0, 6-2. Schaefer moved onto the consolation round, where she forced a tight third set tiebreak before ultimately falling to Kansas’s Caroline Manzi 3-6, 6-3, [8]-[10].

Sally Xu had a hard-fought match against Missouri’s Alex Ackman before dropping a 6-4, 6-1, decision, but bounced back in her consolation round match winning 6-1, 6-1 over St. Thomas’s Anna Sidorenko.

Ida Clement put up a strong fight against Arkansas State’s Meghna Arun Kumar but fell 7(8)-6(6), 6-2. Clement faced Drake’s Miranda Noor in her consolation match winning the opening set 6-0 before being forced to retire in the second set 3-4 [ret.].

Emerey Gross cruised through her first match against Missouri State’s Andjelija Markovic winning 6-2, 6-1 and Gross went on to win her second match of the day 6-3, 6-1 against Lindenwood’s Sofia Loglo.

In doubles action, Schaefer and Xu opened play against Kansas’s Meg McCarty and Nahyeong Cho, falling 8-3. Clement and Emma Tothová had a commanding 8-2 win against Tulsa’s Erin McKenzie and Lilitha Sithenkosi Ndungane. Gross and Mia Soso closed out the day with a powerful 8-1 win against Oral Robert’s Annelise Deer and Natalia Perez Ortega.

The Hawkeyes return tomorrow with singles main draw competition, continuing with singles qualifying rounds, and the doubles main draw.

Singles- Qualifying Round of 64

Gabriella Kellner (Iowa State University) def. Clare Schaefer (Iowa): 6-0, 6-2

Alex Ackman (Missouri) def. Sally Xu (Iowa): 6-4, 6-1

Emerey Gross (Iowa) def. Andjelija Markovic (Missouri State): 6-2, 6-1

Meghna Arun Kumar (Arkansas State) def. Ida Clement (Iowa): 7(8)-6(6), 6-2

Singles- Consolation Round of 64

Caroline Manzi (Kansas) def. Clare Schaefer (Iowa): 6-3, 3-6, [10]-[8]

Sally Xu (Iowa) def. Anna Sidorenko (St. Thomas): 6-1, 6-1

Miranda Noor (Drake) def. Ida Clement (Iowa): 0-6, 4-3 (ret.)

Singles- Qualifying Round of 32

Emerey Gross (Iowa) def. Sofia Loglo (Lindenwood): 6-3, 6-1

Doubles- Round of 64

McCarty/Cho (Kansas) def. Xu/Schaefer (Iowa): 8-3

Clement/Tothová (Iowa) def. McKenzie/Ndungane (Tulsa): 8-2

Gross/Soso (Iowa) def. Deer, Perez Ortega (Oral Roberts): 8-1