Iowa State tennis claims easy victory on first day in Florida

Max Dible

The ISU tennis team (5-2, 0-0 Big 12) out dueled Florida Atlantic Friday afternoon in Miami, 6-1.

Junior Ksenia Pronina and freshman Samantha Budai continued their hot streak as a team, defeating Stephanie Cardullo and Blanca Biglione of Florida Atlantic at No. 1 doubles, 6-2.

Junior Meghan Cassens and sophomore Ana Gasparovic found their way to victory at No. 2 doubles by a score of 6-3, clinching the point for Iowa State despite a loss by Emma Waites and Caroline Andersen at No. 3 doubles, 6-4.

Long matches were the norm for Iowa State Friday, as four singles matches went the full three sets.

FAU scored its only point of the day at No. 1 singles, where Kandiss Legall defeated Pronina in a close contest, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (6).

Cassens also played a tight match at No. 3 singles, but proved out in the third set superbreak to win, 4-6, 6-2, (7).

Gasparovic claimed victory over Cardullo at No. 4 spot, 7-6, 2-6, (7), while Waites rallied back strongly after being swept in her first set at No. 6 singles, ultimately winning over Biglione, 0-6, 7-5, (6), in the last three-set match of the day.

After a rough weekend in Milwaukee, freshman Lydia Green bounced back in a big way at the No. 5 spot, winning her only match of the day via a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Taylor Griggs.

Last, but not least, Budai tangled with Lyndsey Boos at No. 2 singles, finding her way to victory, 7-5, 6-4, and completing the Cyclones’ 6-1 team victory.

Iowa State gets a day off in the Florida sun Saturday, and returns to the court Sunday at 9 a.m. for a showdown with Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach.