Pronina Advances In Top Flight At FGCU Invite

FT. MYERS, Fla. – The Iowa State tennis team opened its spring slate Saturday at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational. Sophomore Ksenia Pronina highlighted the first day of action, advancing to the second round of the top singles flight.

Pronina, a Duesseldorf, Germany native, took a 6-4, 7-6 (2) straight-set win over Northwestern State’s Polina Konop. She advances to face Lorenea Aviles of North Florida Sunday in the second round.

Pronina also teamed with senior Simona Cacciuttolo for a win in the top doubles flight. The duo defeated Liberty’s Cameron Richard and Alexandra Sheeran, 8-4, and will advance to face Florida Gulf Coast’s Bettina Botha and Morgan Bechtel.

Tournament action continues Sunday and runs through Monday.

Ksenia Pronina (ISU) def. Polina Konop (Northwestern State), 6-4, 7-6 (2)

Marina Cunningham (North Florida) def. Simona Cacciuttolo (ISU), 6-4, 6-4

Simona Weymer (North Florida) def. Meghan Cassens (ISU), 7-5, 6-2

Johanna Sterkel (Florida Gulf Coast) def. Jenna Langhorst (ISU), 6-2, 6-4

Franziska Sprinkmeyer (North Texas) def. Ana Gasparovic (ISU), 5-7, 7-6, 10-8

Bettina Botha (Florida Gulf Coast) def. Emma Waites (ISU), 7-5, 6-4

Dane’ Joubert (North Texas) def. Caroline Andersen (ISU), 6-3, 6-2

Mariella Calderon (North Florida) def. Claudia Ortiz (ISU), 6-1, 6-0

Lorena Aviles/Melanie Aguirre (North Florida) def. Langhorst/Andersen (ISU), 9-8 (3)

Pronina/Cacciuttolo (ISU) def. Cameron Richard/Alexandra Sheeran (Liberty), 8-4

Dane’ Joubert/Ilona Serchenko (North Texas) def. Cassens/Gasparovic (ISU), 8-3

Zhoe Solaun (FGCU)/Marina Cunningham (North Florida) def. Ortiz/Waites (ISU), 8-4