AMES – No. 59 Iowa State took down No. 31 Arizona 4-3 Friday. Iowa State battled back from a 3-1 deficit in a barnburner of a match, with five of the six singles matches going to three sets.
The effort brings the Cyclones to 8-3 this season and 2-1 in conference play.
Arizona swept the doubles matches to take the doubles point.
The singles matches began with senior Anna Supapitch Kuearum taking a dominant 6-2, 7-5 win over Josie Usereau. The match marks her 15th conference win, bumping her to second all-time for Iowa State. With one more win she will tie Chie Kezuka for the school record.
Arizona took the next point when Zoya Chulak secured a hard-contested 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Iowa State sophomore Valeska San Martin Ramirez.
Midori Castillo-Meza made it 3-1 in favor of Arizona in another three-set match, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, over freshman Julia Camblor.
The Cyclones began to swing back with a win by freshman Suzanie Pretorius over Tanvi Narendran, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Freshman Cristina Ramos Sierra continued the comeback with a tight 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Danielle Tuhten of Arizona.
It all came down to the wire with a match-deciding battle between freshman Mari Paz Alberto Vilar for the Cyclones and Martyna Ostrzygalo for the Wildcats. The streak of back-and-forth matches continued, as Vilar ultimately triumphed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
The win secured an incredible comeback for the Cyclones, who continue their home dominance. They move to 5-1 in Ames this season.
In the aftermath of the outstanding win, Iowa State will take on Arizona State in one of its toughest matchups of the season so far. The match will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday in Ames, and will air on SwingVision.
