The Cyclones fell to the Oregon Ducks on Friday after several well-fought matches. Despite the loss, the Cyclone women played well and are continuing to improve early on in the spring season.

Sophomore Simona Cacciuttolo had a solid outing. She and Erin Karonis teamed up as the Cyclones’ No. 2 doubles team and defeated the Ducks’ Julia Metzger and Rebea Stueckemann 8-4, the only doubles win for Iowa State.

Cacciuttolo then went on to defeat Stueckemann in singles play, 6-4, 7-5.

The Cyclones’ Maria Macedo bested Oregon’s Julia Metzger 7-6, 6-1, for Iowa State’s other singles win.

Many of the doubles matches were very close, but the Ducks were able to push through to a win in all but one match. The No. 1 doubles match between the Cyclones’ Macedo and Tessa Lang against the Ducks’ Pavlina Smatova and Patricia Skowronski was a 9-7 loss for Iowa State.

The Cyclones had a better showing on the courts Saturday as they topped Montana 6-1. It was their first win against a D-1 team this spring season.

All three of the doubles pairs won their matches. Cacciuttolo and Karonis beat Montana’s Heather Davidson and Ashley Mackey 8-1.

In singles play Iowa State’s Marie-Christine Chartier shut out her opponent, Mackey, in two 6-0 games.

It was a key win for the Cyclones, as they have found new double pairs that work well as they prepare for Big 12 conference play to start.

The team will face Marquette on Feb. 11, and Western Michigan on Feb. 12.