KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Reka Kelemen continued her winning ways, picking up her sixth consecutive singles win this fall, while the Iowa State doubles squads also had a highly successful day for the Cyclone tennis team in the opening rounds of the Western Michigan’s Super Challenge Friday.
“Reka came out and played her game,” ISU head coach Armando Espinosa said. “She was making a lot of balls and she was playing really comfortable. She was up 4-1 in the second set and she kind of let the other girl come back, but she closed it out.”
Kelemen earned a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 win over Indiana’s Christine Stromberg in the first round of singles action. She is fresh of a title at the Jayhawk Invitational two weeks ago. Cyclone freshman Jasmine Lee picked up ISU’s other singles win in a tie-breaker, defeating Western Michigan’s April Kerr, 3-6, 6-2, (10-6).
Lee was undefeated on the day, teaming up with Marie-Christine Chartier after going 2-0 in doubles action. The pair took down a team from Western Michigan, 8-5, and then knocked off a duo from Louisville in a tie-breaker, 9-8 (7-5).
“I think our doubles are certainly achieving their goals,” Espinosa said. “We played against the toughest competition we’ve faced so far, so to go 5-3 is really good. It’s better than we played in the Drake and Minnesota tournaments. Our practice in doubles has really paid off. I was very pleased with how Marie and Jasmine played. They stayed composed and didn’t make too many mistakes. They are getting more confident playing together and that certainly showed.”
Three other Cyclone doubles teams earned doubles wins over teams from Western Michigan on Friday. Iowa State will continue play in the Western Michigan Super Challenge on Saturday and Sunday.
“We will play a lot of matches tomorrow,” Espinosa said. “We are doing what we set out to do. We are competing well and playing hard. It’s good for us to get used to this competition level.”
Western Michigan Super Challenge
Doubles Results
M. Sopel/L. Hureau (IU) def. Tessa Lang/Maria Macedo (ISU) 8-5
Tessa Lang/Maria Macedo (ISU) def. M. Remynse/A. Moccia (WMU) 8-5
E. Vertesheva/K. Zapadalova (IU) def. Jenna Langhorst/Erin Karonis (ISU) 8-3
Erin Karonis/Jenna Langhorst (ISU) def. E. Dudzik/J. Pastunink (WMU) 8-4
M. Matter/L. Stuckey (IU) def. Alyssa Palen/Liza Wischer (ISU) 8-2
Alyssa Palen/Liza Wischer (ISU) def. M. Nivia/R. Denny (WMU) 8-5
Marie-Christine Chartier/Jasmine Lee (ISU) def. A. Kerr/R. Denny (WMU) 8-5
Marie-Christine Chartier/Jasmine Lee (ISU) def. J. Van Aerde/A. Irvin (UL) 9-8 (7-5)
Singles Results
Jasmine Lee (ISU) def. April Kerr (WMU) 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6)
Reka Kelemen (ISU) def. Christine Stromberg (UI) 7-5, 6-3
Megan Matter (IU) def. Liza Wischer (ISU) 6-3, 6-3
Kali Krisik (ND) def. Erin Karonis (ISU) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (9)
Kristen Rafael (ND) def. Maria Fernanda Macedo (ISU) 6-3, 6-2
Amy Allin (UI) def. Tessa Lang (ISU) 6-1, 6-1
Kristina Minor (UI) def. Maria-Christine Chartier (ISU) 6-4, 6-4
Annie McCarthy (UI) def. Jenna Langhorst (ISU) 6-2, 6-3
