Cassens, Pronina Advance In Singles Action

HOUSTON, Texas – Iowa State sophomores Meghan Cassens and Ksenia Pronina advanced to the semifinals in their respective brackets at the Cougar Fall Draw Friday afternoon.

Cassens defeated Texas State’s Rachel Baldree with a 10-7 win in the decisive tiebreaker. The Tacoma, Wash. native took the first set 6-1 before being defeated in the second frame by the same margin. By winning the tiebreak, Cassens advances to face Lamar’s Alicia Porte in the Tom Landry Bracket.

Pronina, a Duesseldorf, Germany native, defeated Liberty’s Cameron Richard in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, to advance and face Agustina Valenzuela of North Texas in the Kenny Rogers Bracket.

Senior Simona Cacciuttolo fell to Houston’s Elena Kordolaimi, 6-3, 6-4, in the opening round. Cacciuttolo will face Lamar’s Carolina Salas in consolation action Saturday.

In her first tournament as a Cyclone, sophomore Claudia Ortiz fell to Allesandra Pennesi of Lamar in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Ortiz resumes play Saturday against Rebekah Jenkins of Liberty.

In doubles action, Pronina and Cacciuttolo fell to North Texas duo Kseniya Bardabush and Franziska Sprinkmeyer, 8-5. Cassens and Ortiz dropped an 8-4 decision to Daniela Trigo and Leah Fried of Rice.

Play resumes Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

Elena Kordolaimi (UH) def. Simona Cacciuttolo (ISU), 6-3, 6-4

Meghan Cassens (ISU) def. Rachel Baldree (TXST), 6-1, 1-6, 10-7

Ksenia Pronina (ISU) def. Cameron Richard (LIB), 6-2, 6-4

Allesandra Pennesi (Lamar) def. Claudia Ortiz (ISU), 6-1, 6-0

Kseniya Bardabush/Franziska Sprinkmeyer (UNT) def. Cacciuttolo/Pronina (ISU), 8-5

Daniela Trigo/Leah Fried (Rice) def. Cassens/Ortiz (ISU), 8-4