Iowa State sees ups and downs in the Air Force Invitational

Marie-Christine Chartier plays on March 12 at Ames Racquet and Fitness Center.

File photo: Manfred Brugger/Iowa State Daily

Marie-Christine Chartier plays on March 12 at Ames Racquet and Fitness Center.

Dan Martin

The ISU tennis team wrapped up its weekend tournament at the Air Force Invitational on Sunday, and the competition proved to be tough and the Cyclones had to fight for their wins all weekend.

The Cyclones kicked the tournament off Friday with three first-round singles victories. Tessa Lang, Emma Waites and Erin Karonis all won their opening matches.

Lang defeated Carla Manzi of Colorado and then won her second-round match against Oklahoma State’s Allison Burkhartt by taking the final set in a thrilling 15-13 match.

Marie-Christine Chartier won her first match in round two following a bye in round one. She out-matched New Mexico’s Ashely Bonner with 6-4 and 7-5 wins.

Round three of play began Saturday, and the Cyclones found themselves matched against stellar competition.

Lang and Karonis both suffered losses in tough matches. Lang was topped by Wyoming’s Simona Synkova. Karonis was defeated by Tooli Wilkins of North Carolina-Greensboro after losing the decisive third set.

Iowa State’s Simona Cacciuttolo put her skills on display through some impressive matches in the consolation competition. She topped Northern Colorado’s Elizaetch Tapia 6-1 in two straight sets to move on to the consolation finals.

Doubles play for Iowa State was full of ups and downs. Langhors and Waites played well together and defeated Oregon’s Molly McDevitt and Siobhan Cavan in their second round.

The final day of competition commenced Sunday. The day was in large part dominated by Colorado, who took home many of the top spots.

Cacciuttolo played against Colorado State’s Kaitlin Wooldridge in the consolation bracket. She defeated Wooldridge easily with quick 6-0 and 6-3 wins.

Michala Hedelund Jensen of Colorado defeated Iowa State’s Chartier 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinal round.

CU junior Michala Hedelund Jensen won four straight matches on her way to winning the singles bracket Sunday. Her final round was against Patricia Skowronski of Oregon in which she won 6-1 and 6-3.

Colorado also won the singles consolation bracket when Kristina Schleich defeated Christen Monreal of Air Force 6-1 and 6-1.