The Cyclone tennis team topped Missouri in its first Big 12 match of the year over the weekend at home.

Winning 8-1, Iowa State won five of its six singles matches and was victorious in all three doubles competitions. One singles win and one doubles win were the result of Tiger forfeits.

In singles competition, Cyclones Kendra Leese, Kirsten Fagen, Mary Rumbaoa and Mollie Racette each defeated a Tiger swinger.

Both Leese and Fagen defeated opponents to whom they lost in competition last fall, something ISU Coach Michele Conlon described as a “nice turn-around” for the women.

After three sets, ISU’s Ann Simons was defeated by Missouri’s Audra Clemons.

Conlon said, “It was very close. I know Ann [Simons] was disappointed that she didn’t win, and I am glad she was kind of disappointed because I want our student-athletes to have a winning attitude and a competitive spirit. But I did think that she played very well.”

Conlon said she believes Simons, whom she described as a “poised player,” will improve as she gains experience in Division I competition.

In doubles, the Fagen/Racette and Leese/Maggi Agustsson combos strong-armed both Missouri pairs.

Conlon said she was pleased with the team’s overall performance.

“I’m expecting a lot from this group. And I thought they met my expectations against Missouri. Maybe we need to raise the bar again.”

Conlon said, “Our doubles has been doing well, and they’ve been gelling together as teams. I think the mid-court and the transition game is something we’ve been working on, and I did see some positives.”

Fagen, who participated both in the singles contest and in doubles with teammate Mollie Racette, said she feels the weekend was “real positive.”

She said she was struggling with her court confidence, and that the weekend victories were “a great breakthrough.”

“We’ve been working real hard, and it was a good outcome,” she said. “Everyone was really confident and aggressive. They got the job done.”

Fagen said she believes one of the team’s greatest assets at this time is that it is in “incredible shape.” Running with the Cyclone squad’s trainer has made a substantial difference, she said.

Conlon said the team’s serving needs more consistency, but even though there are still some distractions during play that need to be eliminated, the Cyclones are a “focused team and their concentration is improving.”