The Upper Iowa University women's tennis team fell 4-1 against Minnesota State University, Mankato to close their weekend. UIU won at No. 1 singles and was leading in the Nos. 3 and 5 matches, but the contests had to be stopped due to time constraints after MSU secured the team win. The Peacocks drop to a 6-5 (3-3 NSIC) record, while the Mavericks improve to 10-4 (4-2 NSIC).
RECAP... Upper Iowa faced an early 1-0 deficit after the Mavericks claimed the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 3.
Varvara Ogorodnikova and
Lina Ziani fell 6-2 while playing in their second consecutive No. 1 doubles match. UIU answered with a 6-4 win from the Peacock pairing of
Charalampia Grammatikaki and
Jessa Michieli at No. 2 doubles to even the best-of-three team doubles competition. Minnesota State secured the doubles point with a 6-4 win of their own in the No. 3 match over the duo of
Padmasree Murugan and
Elaina Wall.
In singles play, Grammatikaki got the Peacocks back on track with a 6-3, 6-3 win at the top singles spot. The straight-set victory knotted the team score at 1-1, but it would prove the be the only point UIU would have an opportunity to add. Wall fell 6-0, 6-3 at No. 6 singles as MSU reclaimed the team lead, 2-1. Michieli's No. 2 match was the next to finish, and she fell in straight sets after a tightly contested 7-5 battle in set one before a 6-0 decision in set two. The Mavericks clinched the team win with their fourth point thanks to another hotly contested 7-5, 6-4 win over Ziani at the No. 4 singles spot.
Ogorodnikova and Murugan were each leading in the deciding third set of their respective matches, but the Nos. 3 and 5 singles contests were called off due to time constraints as Minnesota State clinched the team dual with a 4-1 win.
COACH'S QUOTE... "We started a little slow today in doubles. We picked up a good win at No. 2, but were not able to secure wins at 1 and 3. In singles, Chara (Grammatikaki) was our lone victory. We lost singles 2-4-6, and singles 3-5 were stopped due to time running out. We were up in those final two matches, so it was a bit frustrating not to be able to finish them. Overall, we lacked consistency today and made unforced errors that we did not make yesterday. So many matches are highly contested, so we just need to keep improving on focusing on our game, not getting frustrated when things go wrong, and making the necessary adjustments. I am proud of what this group did this weekend, and we are looking forward to our next matches on March 19-20th. Go Peacocks!" - Head Coach, Léo Millet
UP NEXT... Upper Iowa will have a two-week break until their next matches on Mar. 19-20 in Winona, Minn. The Peacocks take on St. Cloud State University on Saturday, Mar. 19, at 1 p.m., before a dual against the University of Minnesota Duluth on Sunday, Mar. 20, at 1:45 p.m.
RESULTS...
Minnesota State 4, Upper Iowa 1
Singles competition
1. Grammatikaki, Chara (UIU) def. Stilwell, Avery (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Minisy, Hana (MSU) def. Michieli, Jessa (UIU) 7-5, 6-0
3. Ogorodnikova, Varvara (UIU) vs. Felderman, Elizabeth (MSU) 1- 6, 6-1, 4-2, unfinished
4. Julsrud, Taylor (MSU) def. Ziani, Lina (UIU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Murugan, Padmasree (UIU) vs. Psooy, Brynn (MSU) 6-3, 2-6, 1-0, unfinished
6. Federler, Lacee (MSU) def. Wall, Elaina (UIU) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Stilwell, Avery / Felderman, Elizabeth (MSU) def. Ogorodnikova, Varvara / Ziani, Lina (UIU) 6-2
2. Grammatikaki, Chara / Michieli, Jessa (UIU) def. Minisy, Hana / Julsrud, Taylor (MSU) 6-4
3. Psooy, Brynn / Federler, Lacee (MSU) def. Murugan, Padmasree / Wall, Elaina (UIU) 6-4
