Although the ISU tennis team didn’t win against No. 13 Baylor on Monday night, the team went head to head with one of the best teams in the conference.

It doesn’t show up in the box score, but the Cyclones (4-19, 1-9 Big 12) gave the Lady Bears (22-6, 7-2) more than they might have expected.

“We were toe to toe with them at certain points, it was just a little bit of a lack of discipline that we couldn’t get more games or we couldn’t string around more points,” said ISU coach Armando Espinosa. “We saw that they’re not completely unbeatable and so hopefully that will give us the confidence to go into play against Missouri better.”

While the team didn’t win any of the singles matches, it came close. And in doubles, the Cyclones recovered after being down early to win the match 8-7.

“Jenna [Langhorst] and Ksenia [Pronina] won their doubles, so that’s awesome, that means we were right there with them,” said ISU senior Marie-Christine Chartier. “It’s just little points here and there, but it was a big positive because it’s not like we were just blown away by them, it’s just little points.”

Even though Iowa State has lost its last two meets, the team still has a lot of positivity going into the Big 12 Championships. The Cyclones have improved week by week and know it will be different this time against Missouri.

“Everyone is playing really well, especially after the Kansas match where everyone won,” said ISU senior Tessa Lang. “We’re all going into this week’s conference tournament match with a lot of positive energy and a lot of excitement to hopefully have a big win here against Missouri.”

Espinosa stressed how different the match against Missouri will be compared to when the teams met earlier in the season.

“It’s a little bit different now that it’s the conference tournament, if you lose you’re pretty much out,” Espinosa said. “For the seniors, it could be their last match of their careers, so definitely it’s going to mean a lot more to them than just a regular-season match.

“It’s first to four, so every point is going to count. The minute the point is decided, you stop. So there is going to be a little bit more of a sense of urgency to go out there and make sure you’re on top of your game and make sure every point counts.”

Those ISU seniors are ending their careers on the right note academically.

Maria Fernanda Macedo, Chelsea Loprinzi, Lang and Chartier were honored on the 2012 All-Big 12 Academic Tennis Team announced Tuesday, along with junior Jenna Langhorst. The Cyclones led the Big 12 with five players placed on the team.

Macedo, Lang and Chartier collected first-team honors for their third time each, while Loprinzi and Langhorst made the second team, both for the first time.