MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Iowa State Cyclones (4-15, 3-10 in Big 12 play) were defeated by the Kansas State Wildcats (8-12, 3-9 in Big 12 play) on Friday in a loss where very little went right for the cardinal and gold.
Iowa State concluded its season prematurely after the Oklahoma State Cowgirls canceled the season finale Sunday. Against the Wildcats, the Cyclones’ issues in doubles play returned and an uninspired performance in the lower courts doomed Iowa State from the start.
The regular season has come to a close for the Cyclones, and the team did not qualify for the Big 12 Tournament. The offseason provides plenty of opportunity for Iowa State, with no players graduating following the match against Kansas State.
Early exit
The Cyclones had no way to make the Big 12 Championships due to their early-season struggles, but the team still planned on finishing the season Sunday against the Cowgirls.
Unfortunately, the season ended unceremoniously against Kansas State.
Injuries across the Oklahoma State roster forced the team to cancel its final homestand of the season against both Iowa State and Kansas. This was OSU’s fifth straight forfeit. The Cowgirls team featured three top 100 players in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s rankings. A litany of injuries throughout the team halted the Cowgirls’ strong start to the season.
Oklahoma State will be playing in the Big 12 Tournament if the team is healthy, but the Cyclones not having the opportunity to end the season on a high note is yet another unfortunate ending in a season full of them.
Doubles troubles
In a familiar pattern, the Cyclones lost the doubles point, and it wasn’t particularly close.
On the top doubles court, Iowa State was swiftly taken out 6-1, and the No. 2 court fared not much better for the Cyclones with a 6-3 defeat.
Freshmen Alicia Dale and Gabriella Kellner were tied 4-4 on the No. 3 court before the match went unfinished.
The Cyclones had more success on the doubles courts towards the end of the season, but Friday didn’t follow that trend. The lone bright spot was the competitiveness of Iowa State’s freshman duo, with the pair finishing 2-2 on the season with several unfinished matches.
For the Cyclones to have a stronger season next year, fixing the doubles issues and earning the first point of the match should be high on the offseason to-do list.
Retired match earns KSU quick victory
The struggles for the Cyclones didn’t end with just the doubles points. In fact, the problems were even more prevalent in the singles matches.
Kansas State’s No. 1 Maralgoo Chogsomjav dispatched sophomore Mari Paz Alberto Vilar with ease, winning the first set 6-2 before Alberto Vilar retired from the match down 1-0 in the second set.
Things were even more dire for the Cyclones on the lower courts, where Dale lost on the No. 5 court 6-0, 6-1 before sophomore Suzanie Pretorius lost 6-1, 6-1 on the No. 6 court.
A week after Iowa State looked dominant on the lower courts against Cincinnati and West Virginia, it was a little disheartening to see the depth of the roster look as unsettled as it did Friday. If the Cyclones are going to turn it around next season, the depth has to start the season at the same level as it played April 3-5.
Final thoughts
The season has officially come to a close, and it will be one to forget for the Cyclones. However, with no players graduating, overall progression should aid Iowa State in its quest back towards Big 12 relevance.
