The Peacock tennis team bounced back with a win in their second match over the weekend to earn a split on their final two days of competition this fall.  After falling to Emporia State University, 8-1, on Saturday, Upper Iowa battled a tough Washburn squad and edged the Ichabods 5-4 to improve to 2-1 in duals this fall.
 
On Saturday, the Hornets of Emporia swept the three doubles matches and claimed five of the six singles matches on the way to a decisive victory.  Saki Kawabata was the lone Peacock to earn a point thanks to her 7-5, 6-1 victory at #2 singles.  Julia Prokopyshyn was the only other player to win a set, but she fell in three in the #6 singles bout.
 
"We just didn't come out ready to compete on Saturday," said Head Coach Joey J. Barnes.  "We have to be mentally prepared against a tough regional opponent like Emporia.  They controlled the play on the courts."
 
The Peacocks bounced back on Sunday edging out the Ichabods for a 5-4 win in Topeka, Kan.  Upper Iowa posted wins in the #1 and #2 doubles matches as Kawabata teamed up with Iris Verweij for an 8-0 dominant win and Victoria Kulbokas paired with Kelly Jachymowski for a back-and-forth 9-8 (8-6) victory.  Anna Okolot and Prokophshyn were defeated 8-5 in the final doubles match.
 
In singles play, the teams split the six matches giving UIU the three points they needed for the victory.  Washburn won the matches at #3, #4 and #5, while UIU won the bouts at #1, #2 and #6.  Kawabata won at #1 6-1, 6-2, while Verweij earned the 6-3, 6-1 win at #2.  Jachymowski dominated her match at #6 surrendering only one game to secure a 6-1, 6-0 win.
 
"We came out with a much stronger attitude on Sunday," said Barnes.  "The team came out ready to compete at the outset and it showed.  Washburn is a very competitive team and they fought to the very last point.  It's great to post a win against a regional opponent."
 
With the fall season now in the books, the team will have to wait until early February for their competition schedule to resume.
 
Emporia 8, Upper Iowa 1
Oct 04, 2014 at Emporia, Kan. (Emporia HS)
Singles competition
1. Griffey, Tawni (ESU) def. Verweij, Iris (UIU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Kawabata, Saki (UIU) def. Ramos, Camila (ESU) 7-5, 6-1
3. Smith, Taylor (ESU) def. Okolot, Anna (UIU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Clark, Kaley (ESU) def. Kulbokas, Victoria (UIU) 6-3, 6-0
5. Fugit, Amy (ESU) def. Jachymowski, Kelly (UIU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Khounsombath, Tiffany (ESU) def. Prokopyshyn, Julia (UIU) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Griffey, Tawni/Ramos, Camila (ESU) def. Verweij,Iris/Kawabata,Saki (UIU) 8-1
2. Clark, Kaley/Fugit, Amy (ESU) def. Kulbokas,VIcky/Jachymowski,Kelly (UIU) 8-4 
3. Smith, Taylor/Khounsombath, Tiffany (ESU) def. Prokopyshyn,Julia/Winne, Morgan (UIU) 8-2


Upper Iowa 5, Washburn 4
Oct 05, 2014 at Topeka, Kan. (WU Tennis Complex) 

Singles competition

1. Kawabata,Saki (UIU) def. Blackim,Jodie (WU) 6-1, 6-2

2. Verweij,Iris (UIU) def. MoralCarretero,Maria (WU) 6-3, 6-1

3. Plum,Maggie (WU) def. Okolot,Anna (UIU) 6-3, 7-5, 10-8

4. Shepler,Gwen (WU) def. Kulbokas,VIcky (UIU) 6-4, 6-4

5. Banks,Nzingha (WU) def. Prokopyshyn,Julia (UIU) 6-2, 6-3

6. Jachymowski,Kelly (UIU) def. Sutton,Ashlynn (WU) 6-1, 6-0

 

Doubles competition

1. Verweij,Iris/Kawabata,Saki (UIU) def. Blackim,Jodie/Plum,Maggie (WU) 8-0

2. Kulbokas,VIcky/Jachymowski,Kelly (UIU) def. Shepler,Gwen/MoralCarretero,Maria (WU) 9-8 (8-6)

3. Sutton,Ashlynn/Banks,Nzingha (WU) def. Okolot,Anna/Prokopyshyn,Julia (UIU) 8-5