The Iowa State women’s tennis team lost a heartbreaker this weekend to the Ball State Cardinals, dropping the decisive doubles match 9-7 to lose by the score of 5-4 in action at the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center.

Cyclone coach Michelle Conlon was disappointed with the loss and thought there was plenty of room for improvement, but she also found some bright spots.

“While it was difficult to lose a close match, there were several situations that we pulled out to put ourselves in that position,” Conlon said.

“Noortje [Cornelissen], Mary [Rumboa] and Kendra [Leese] all lost their first sets and managed to scrap back to win,” she said.

“Our doubles play will certainly need to improve. We will need to be more aggressive, get tighter to the net and not let outside factors enter into the play,” Conlon said.

The Cyclones came out firing, compiling a 4-2 record in singles, including wins by Cornelissen, Leese, Rumboa and Edna Vazquez.

Cornelissen, a freshman, defeated BSU’s Libby Gerding in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, in No. 1 singles. Gerding had earlier defeated the No. 1 player from a top 40 team Indiana.

Conlon was very impressed by Cornelissen’s play, noting that “she maintained some good concentration throughout her match and played in a very determined fashion.”

Ball State’s Gena Tranquada defeated ISU’s Andrea Simons 6-1, 6-4, in No. 2 singles to even the match.

ISU then won three matches on the trot with wins by Leese, Vazquez and Rumboa.

Leese, ISU’s No. 3, won in three sets, defeating Gayle Larsen 2-6, 6-2, 7-6.

Vazquez defeated Susie Miller in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, in No. 4 singles.

Conlon was particularly happy with the way Vazquez played.

“I was pleased with the way Edna executed in her match,” Conlon said.

“She stepped onto the court and played exactly how I wanted her to play — with her attacking gamestyle,” Conlon said.

Mary Rumboa pulled out another three-setter, defeating Darcy Poulos 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, to give ISU a 4-1 lead. It would be ISU’s final win of the match.

BSU’s Kindal Shores won the No. 6 singles, defeating Karin Westberg of ISU by the score of 6-4, 6-1, to draw the Cardinals within two going into the doubles portion of the meet.

The No. 1 doubles match was no contest, as Libby Gerding and Darcy Poulos of BSU whipped Andrea Simons and Edna Vazquez 8-0.

The Cardinals tied the meet with a 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles as Gena Tranquada and Alicia Butz defeated Noortje Cornelissen and Kendra Leese of ISU.

And finally, Gayle Larsen and Susie Miller, both singles losers, defeated Mary Rumboa and Sharla Whitaker, 9-7, to win the match and the meet.

Conlon was happy with the fan turnout and hoped for more of the same as she said upcoming opponent Gustavus Adolphus would be tough.

“Gustavus has the ability to give us fits with their scrappy play,” she said. “They will run a lot of balls down and make us earn our points. We will need to be ready mentally to play.

“It was nice to get some fan support at our match, so we hope for another terrific turnout for Gustavus,” Conlon said.

“The fans are able to sit right down next to the court, hear the student-athletes and actually have a strong impact on how they play by cheering them on,” she said.