The Iowa State women’s tennis squad took a Spring Break trip of its own last week, but relaxing in the sun was not a priority. Instead, the Cyclones recorded two dual victories and logged six days of valuable practice during their time at Hilton Head, S.C.

ISU defeated Bucknell, 9-0, on March 16 and Lehigh, 8-1, on March 20 at Hilton Head to boost its overall dual record to 6-5. The wins give the Cyclones a three-match winning streak heading into road games this weekend in Texas.

“In both of them (matches), I think the team played well,” ISU Coach Michele Conlon said. “I think our players generally have more experience than Bucknell and Lehigh and just got down to business and took care of ’em.”

Against Bucknell, all six of ISU’s singles players recorded two-set wins.

Picking up victories at the No. 1-No. 6 positions, respectively, were sophomore Kendra Leese, junior Andrean Simons, senior Kirsten Fagen, junior Mary Rumbaoa, senior Maggi Agustsson, and senior Mollie Racette. Victorious Cyclone doubles teams were Fagen/Racette, Agustsson/Leese, and Rumbaoa/Simons.

“Our doubles performances, I thought, were solid. They kept good concentration. They (opponents) had some game styles that we’re not used to,” Conlon said.

The story was nearly identical in the lopsided Lehigh triumph.

Leese said, “Everyone was very well-focused and just played their own game.”

Conlon said the main goal of the trip was to have an opportunity to get away from chilly Iowa and practice outdoors.

She said many of ISU’s upcoming opponents have been playing outside extensively, while the Cyclones have spent much of the winter in the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center.

One of the brightest moments of ISU’s season occurred just prior to spring break: the Cyclones downed Drake 6-3 in Des Moines on March 11. It was the first time an ISU squad had beaten the Bulldogs in nearly 10 years, Conlon said.

The hotly-contested tilt included several three-set singles matches.

Conlon said it was “a terrific win for our program. There were some personal breakthroughs. I think it will give us some confidence in knowing that when the matches do get tight, they can pull through.”

Conlon said one of the keys to the Drake win was the Cyclones’ outstanding physical shape.

She said this season’s squad has worked harder in practice and conditioning than any team she’s ever coached. That will pay off during the upcoming stretch of difficult matches, she said.

“I think it’s always important for them to carry forth all of their individual and team goals they want to experience. It’s very important to stay focused on the small successes because the small successes will end up turning into the big successes,” Conlon said.

This weekend’s trip to the Lone Star state should be a formidable challenge. The Cyclones (1-1 in Big 12 play) face No. 35 Texas A&M on Saturday and seventh-ranked Texas on Sunday. Conlon said her team will have to be consistent and patient to succeed in those matches.

“(We can’t) lose the point too quickly or try to win it too quickly because against good players that’s tough to do. You don’t just go ahead and hit a winner,” she said.

Leese said, “We’re just going to have to go out there with a positive attitude. It’s going to be very tough. But if we just go out there and do the best we can, that’s all we can really ask.”

ISU is scheduled to play its first outdoor home matches April 4-5 against Baylor and Texas Tech at the Forker Tennis Courts.