Cyclones Fall to Kansas State in Big 12 Championships
Iowa State senior Alejandra Galvis watches for the ball at the outdoor Kansas match on April 10. Galvis won her doubles match with freshman Annabella Bonadonna. The Cyclones would go on to lose overall 4-2.
April 28, 2016
The Iowa State tennis team fell short to Kansas State on Thursday, at the Big 12 Championships in Stillwater, Okla.
The Cyclones lost 4-0 against the Wildcats at the Greenwood Tennis Center. Kansas State improved to 11-13 overall, while the Cyclones finished their season with a 14-10 overall record.
The 8th seeded Cyclones came into the tournament with a higher seed than the 9th seeded Wildcats. But ISU found itself in a bit of trouble after giving losing the doubles point.
Kansas State clinched the doubles point in the No. 2 and No. 3 spot. Carolina Costamagna and Livia Crinu earned the first point by defeating Cyclones Regina Espindola and Ana Gasparavic 6-0. Following that, Kansas State’s Palma Juhasz and Sara Castellano defeated the Iowa State’s dynamic duo of Alejandra Galvis and Annabella Bonadonna.
Going in to singles, ISU had to make some adjustments in the line up. ISU’s No. 1 Samantha Budai participated in doubles, but was unable to continue due to a hamstring injury she suffered last week against Texas Tech.
Kansas State ceased the opportunity and went to work. The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead after Iowa State’s Liera Bender fell, 6-1, 6-2 against Livia Crinu at the No. 6 spot. Then the Wildcats extended the lead to 3-0 when Costamagna defeated Espindola, 6-1, 6-2. Then the Wildcats finally put the match away at the No. 1 spot. Liza Buss, who was playing a spot-up in place of Budai, fell, 7-5, 6-2, to Castellano.
The Cyclones were eliminated from the tournament with the loss and will look to come back next year stronger after only graduating two seniors.
