The rackets will be out this weekend as the Cy-Hawk series moves to the tennis courts. A win for the Cyclones would clinch the Cy-Hawk title for Iowa State this school year.

ISU tennis hasn’t defeated Iowa in the regular season since the 1976-77 season. The current seniors have experienced the feeling of defeat multiple times and are ready for some change.

“They’ve had stronger teams in the past and I feel like we have a better shot against them this season,” said senior Meghan Cassens.

For players like junior Alejandra Galvis, this will be the first time she experiences the Cy-Hawk rivalry. Galvis said she can’t wait to be on Hawkeye turf because it brings out a more competitive and focused mind.

“I play better when there’s more people cheering against me,” Galvis said.

Because one more win would make Iowa State the first of the two schools to have back-to-back championships in the Cy-Hawk series, the pressure of that title will be on the players’ shoulders.

“I haven’t told the players about the Cy-Hawk title being on the line because I don’t want to put too much pressure on them,” said ISU coach Armando Espinosa.  

The ISU team has seen Iowa play this year during the Gopher Invitational in September, which might aid in understanding the team’s game strategy. 

The twist in this match is that the men’s tennis team will be playing at the same time as the women’s, which should create a louder fan section and a more competitive atmosphere.

The ISU tennis team will be taking advantage of what they think is a weaker Iowa team in terms of its depth and leadership compared to previous years. As long as the players can stay healthy, the team has high hopes for the weekend.

Senior Caroline Andersen is still dealing with a shoulder injury, but she will be ready to contribute. Against Iowa, Espinosa expects to have a similar lineup from last weekend’s Omaha match.

The Cy-Hawk matchup will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at Iowa’s indoor tennis complex.