Strong winds rolled through Ames once again Friday when the ISU tennis team took on the Kansas Jayhawks. Despite a close battle, the Cyclones (10-9, 1-4 Big 12) were defeated by the Jayhawks (7-8, 1-4 Big 12) for the 34th consecutive time by a score of 4-3.

After falling in the first set, senior Erin Karonis bounced back to defeated Ekaterina Morozova, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2, at the No. 1 singles spot. Junior Tessa Lang defeated Sara Lazarevic, 6-3, 2-6, 6-0, at the No. 3 spot, and ISU junior Maria Macedo won in straight sets for the second match in a row.

“I adjusted my game a lot to the wind, which I didn’t do in previous matches, so I think I’m getting used to playing outside.” Macedo said. “I was very patient, especially on the side where you can’t do anything with the ball because the wind will just push it back.”

The Cyclones failed to pick up their third-straight doubles point. Macedo and Lang lost a close match against Morozova and Dylan Windom 9-8 (7-4) at the No. 1 doubles spot, and Karonis and sophomore Simona Cacciuttolo were defeated by Lazarevic and Erin Wilbert 8-5 at the No. 2 spot.

“We did not execute, and I think it came down to that,” said Cyclone coach Armando Espinosa. “It was just execution of, unfortunately, the basics.”

With the score tied nearing the end of the meet, it came down to senior Liza Wischer at the No. 6 spot.

Despite winning the first set, Wischer, who had her whole team cheering her on from the sideline, was defeated by Windom 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4, securing the win for the Jayhawks. Wischer said she was aware of the pressure she had in that match.

“When it comes down and you’re the last match on and the team basically depends on you, it’s tough,” Espinosa said. “It’s like taking the last shot, trying to do a buzzer-beater kind of thing.”