The Upper Iowa University women's tennis team bested the University of Sioux Falls 5-2 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Wins in the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles matches and in the Nos. 1-4 singles spots propelled the Peacocks to the win in their penultimate regular season dual. UIU improves to 9-6 (6-4 NSIC) and clinches a spot in the NSIC Tournament, where they will be no lower than the No. 6 seed. With the loss, the Cougars (10-8, 5-5 NSIC) trade places with the Peacocks and move to seventh in the NSIC standings.
RECAP... Sioux Falls took an early edge in the best-of-three doubles matches thanks to a 6-0 win over
Padmasree Murugan and
Elaina Wall in the No. 3 match.
Varvara Ogorodnikova and
Lina Ziani came up with an answer and earned a 6-3 win in the No. 1 doubles spot to pull within one win from the all-important doubles point. In the No. 2 doubles spot,
Charalampia Grammatikaki and
Jessa Michieli persevered for a gritty 7-6 win to give the UIU a 1-0 lead in the team dual. UIU's No. 2 doubles duo was ahead 5-2 and was one set away from the win, but USF orchestrated a comeback and forced a tie-breaking set. Grammatikaki and Michieli won 7-1 in the tiebreak after the back-and-forth match, marking the second time all season that a doubles match has gone to the tiebreak for Upper Iowa.
Grammatikaki carried the momentum of her doubles win into singles competition, winning 6-2, 1-0 in the top singles spot to put UIU up 2-0 after her opponent retired. The Cougars earned their first point with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) win over Wall in a competitive No. 6 singles match, cutting the deficit to 2-1. A 6-4, 6-4 win by Ziani at No. 4 singles put the momentum back on the side of the Peacocks and pulled the visitors within one point of clinching the dual, 3-1.
Ogorodnikova sealed the deal with a 6-3, 6-2 win in the No. 2 singles match, clinching the team win for Upper Iowa at 4-1. USF earned a 6-2, 6-2 win over Murugan at No. 5 singles to add a second point to their total, but the Peacocks got the final word thanks to a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win by Michieli in the No. 3 singles match. The competitive, comeback win in three sets saw the dual end with Upper Iowa leading 5-2 on the scoreboard.
With the win, the Peacocks jumped the Cougars in the NSIC standings. After officially clinching a postseason berth earlier in the day, Upper Iowa ensured they will finish no lower than sixth in the NSIC standings with the win.
COACH'S QUOTE... "We picked up another great victory today! The team showed great composure during the tough moments and showed a true fighting spirit. We started a little slow in doubles and had a few up and down moments, but we were able to pick up the doubles point with victories at 1 and 2. In singles, we picked up four victories from our top four. All the matches were contested, but we showed great control and were able to adapt to our opponents. We played as one team today and not as six individuals. All this hard work is paying off, and I am extremely proud of this team! We just need to keep focusing on the process, our mentality, our attitude, and on continuing to believe in ourselves. Go Peacocks!" - Head Coach, Léo Millet
UP NEXT... Upper Iowa will conclude its regular season campaign with a matchup against No. 20 Augustana University at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Apr. 10. in Sioux Falls, S.D. After playing the NSIC's top team, the Peacocks will participate in the 2022 NSIC Women's Tennis Tournament.
RESULTS...
Upper Iowa 5, Sioux Falls 2
Singles competition
1. Grammatikaki, Chara (UIU) def. Quandt, Megan (USF) 6-2, 1-0 (Ret.)
2. Ogorodnikova, Varvara (UIU) def. Thorfinnson, Daniell (USF) 6-3, 6-2
3. Michieli, Jessa (UIU) def. Thorfinnson, Joelle (USF) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
4. Ziani, Lina (UIU) def. Thinnsen, Emily (USF) 6-3, 6-4
5. Nesheim, Katelyn (USF) def. Murugan, Padmasree (UIU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Applegate, Emily (USF) def. Wall, Elaina (UIU) 6-0, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles competition
1. Ogorodnikova, Varvara / Ziani, Lina (UIU) def. Quandt, Megan / Forney, Peyton (USF) 6-3
2. Grammatikaki, Chara / Michieli, Jessa (UIU) def. Thorfinnson, Joelle / Thorfinnson, Daniell (USF) 7-6 (7-1)
3. Thinnsen, Emily / Nesheim, Katelyn (USF) def. Murugan, Padmasree / Wall, Elaina (UIU) 6-0
