The ISU women’s tennis team is hard at work this week preparing for its last match of the regular season before heading into the Big 12 tournament.

The Cyclones face Northern Iowa at 11 a.m. Sunday in Cedar Falls. Junior Beth Chermel said despite the obstacles the Cyclones have faced this season, the team is confident going into Panther country.

“It’s a different feeling going into this match instead of a Big 12 match,” Chermel said. “We played against their players in the fall at the Drake tournament and had good results, which makes you more confident. It’s nice to have some success behind you going in, rather than not knowing.”

Chermel, playing at the No. 3 spot, defeated Agnese Pukse of Northern Iowa at the Drake tournament in November, 6-4, 6-2.

Coach Michele Conlon said Northern Iowa is a much-improved team since last spring season, when the Cyclones shut out the Panthers 7-0.

“Northern Iowa is one of the strongest teams in their conference,” Conlon said. “They are very competitive and have some convincing wins in their conference.”

Northern Iowa is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and is 14-3 on the season.

Chermel said a 5-2 Panther victory over Northern Colorado shows it may have staying power against Iowa State. The Cyclones also played Northern Colorado this season, shutting it out 7-0, the lone Cyclone win in the season thus far.

The team has struggled throughout the spring with injuries, position changes and new members. After losing freshman Caitlin Loprinzi to an injured ankle and wrist, Conlon recruited Beth Takemoto to walk on the team for the rest of the season.

Takemoto has played in just two matches, against Kansas State and Nebraska the last two weekends.

“I thought Charlotte and I played twice as good [against Nebraska] as we did against Kansas State,” Takemoto said of her second time playing with new doubles partner Charlotte Ljungkrantz.

Chermel said the team is improving and working on getting in multiple matches during practice. She said the women will focus on building the point, being more consistent and being more aggressive at the net. The ISU Tennis Club will practice with the women to give them experience with different kinds of serves and hits. Another addition to the Cyclone team was announced Monday when the Cyclones received a national letter of intent from Kara Hickey of Columbia, Mo., who is ranked No. 117 nationally among United States Tennis Association juniors.

Conlon said Hickey was initially interested in Iowa State because of the school’s statistics program.

“Once we got her to campus and got her to meet the girls, she decided to go with us,” Conlon said. “I think Iowa State sells itself.

“It’s a good atmosphere that people want to be a part of.”

The team has Monday to rest, but returns to practice on Tuesday. The Cyclones head to Austin, Texas, for the Big 12 tournament on Wednesday.