The ISU tennis team put up a stronger fight against a conference opponent than they had all year, but it wasn’t enough to advance in the Big 12 Championships past fifth seed Texas Tech.

The final score was 4-0 Lady Raiders, as tournament play stops when the outcome is decided — there are only seven possible points. Iowa State did get one victory, as Danielle Uscinski downed Janet Durham in straight sets, 6-0 6-1.

“Danielle was just outstanding,” said ISU coach Michele Conlon. “She lost to Durham at the end of March and turned around and beat her 6-0, 6-1.”

Uscinski said she had a game plan going in — based on how she played Durham last time — and stuck to it.

“It felt pretty damn good, I’m not going to lie,” she said. “When I played her, I made a lot of mistakes, and it feels pretty good to have been working toward something and get it.”

The remaining two matches were canceled mid-set, as they would have no effect on the outcome, but according to No. 1 singles player Jill Palen, both Chrissy Derouin and Charlotte Ljungkrantz were beating their opponents.

“Chrissy and Charlotte won their first sets, and they had to stop in the middle of their matches,” Palen said. “It could have potentially been a 4-3 match.

“It was a great match, but it was also disappointing the way it finished.”

Palen also said the doubles matches were tighter than normal. Palen and Beth Chermel lost 8-5, Derouin and Uscinski 9-7, and Ljungkrantz and Beth Takemoto 8-2. Texas Tech gained a one-point advantage going into the singles competition, and all the momentum in the match.

“What I told the team was that going into this match I really felt like we could win it,” Conlon said. “Up until the very end, we still thought we could win it. They put themselves in a position for a potential upset.”

Despite only winning one meet all year and none in the conference, the team seemed upbeat about its chances for next year. Eve Soriano and Caitlin Loprinzi will return from injuries, and a recruit joins the team in the fall.

“It’s frustrating, obviously, but we’re leaving this season with a positive attitude,” Uscinski said. “We’re so close, and we’re all going to work really hard this summer.

“I think we’re ready to break out next year.”