Tennis believes in improvement

ISU+player+Meghan+Cassens+returns+the+ball+during+singles+play+against+Kansas+State+on+Friday%2C+April+13.+Cassens+won+her+first+set+6-4+and+lost+her+second+2-6.+The+event+took+place+indoors+at+the+Ames+Racquet+and+Fitness+due+to+weather+conditions.%C2%A0%0A

Photo: Grace Steenhagen/Iowa State Daily

ISU player Meghan Cassens returns the ball during singles play against Kansas State on Friday, April 13. Cassens won her first set 6-4 and lost her second 2-6. The event took place indoors at the Ames Racquet and Fitness due to weather conditions. 

Michael Schmitt

ISU tennis matches are always a fun event to watch, and the best part is the free admission.

Tennis is a sport for people of all ages to enjoy, and the ISU women’s tennis team can be family fun for everyone.

While the team only had five home meets this year, next year there will be 11.

The Cyclones have started to see some success as of late — after not winning a conference meet from 2002 to 2008, they have won six in the past four years.

The future also looks bright for the Cyclones. The 2011-12 team was led by then-freshmen Meghan Cassens and Ksenia Pronina last season and the pair will be back along with seniors Simona Cacciuttolo and Jenna Langhorst.

The team is coached by Armando Espinosa, along with assistant coach Rod Puebla. They compete at the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center or at the Forker Tennis Courts, depending on the weather.

Next year, the Cyclones will be hoping to improve from a 4-19 season that could have been drastically different if they had been able to win some close matches, having had six matches they lost 4-3.

“We have to go out there and believe in ourselves and believe that we can win,” Puebla said. “We have to get over the hump that we can win one doubles point, and we’ll be fine.”

If the team can improve on winning close matches, the 2012-13 season could be a whole lot better.