The ISU women’s tennis team was scheduled to jump-start its spring season at home Friday against Division III Gustavus Adolphus, but the match has been canceled because of the team’s health.

Head coach Michele Conlon said the match was canceled because the Cyclones have minor injuries, and they need to be rested to begin conference play against Texas on Saturday.

“We love to compete against [Gustavus Adolphus]; they have a high level of play. We just thought the cancellation would be best with Texas coming to town,” said Conlon.

Junior Beth Chermel said she is disappointed, but canceling the match was the best decision.

“It’s kind of disappointing because we’re all ready to get the season started, and they are a fun team to play,” Chermel said. “Hopefully, it will allow us to be our best against Texas.”

Freshman Caitlin Loprinzi, who is suffering from a stress reaction in her shin and a sore wrist, said the cancellation may help the team’s chances against Texas.

“I think it will give us time to focus on our strategy match. We will be going in fresh, without the added pressure of trying to recover from the previous night’s match,” Loprinzi said.

Fresh legs will be necessary against the No. 14 Longhorns.

In last week’s rankings, Texas was ranked No. 9, but fell five spots after sneaking past unranked Arizona State in a 4-3 decision last weekend.

Conlon said the ISU women have played Texas when it was highly ranked before, and the team is not going to let the rankings intimidate it.

“I think I’d rather play a ranked team. There is no pressure; you can go out there and give it your all. I like being the underdog,” Loprinzi said.

Three Big 12 teams are ranked in the top 25, with Texas at No. 14, Texas A&M at No. 19 and Oklahoma at No. 24.

“I try not to even pay attention to the ranking. We just have to go out there with the mentality that every player is going to be tough,” Chermel said. “You can’t worry about the rankings. It’s the beginning of the season, and anything can happen.”

Iowa State was shut out by then-No. 13 Texas 7-0 in February 2004.

Returning this year for Texas is sophomore Petra Dizdar from Croatia, who finished off her freshman season ranked No. 28 nationally.

Although Iowa State will not know its exact lineup for Saturday’s match until minutes before the meet, Conlon said the Cyclones may execute certain specific strategies against players they have faced before.

“These girls have competed against nationally ranked players numerous times,” Conlon said. “We just have to go out there with a solid mentality and we will be ready.”