Iowa State Media Relations
RALEIGH, N.C. – Down 2-0 with its backs against the wall the No. 36 Iowa State tennis team responded to upset No. 24 South Carolina, 4-2, and advance to the second round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Tournament.
The Cyclones improved to 14-7 overall, while South Carolina finishes its season with a 12-12 mark. The Cyclones will face the winner of VCU and the No. 6 overall seed North Carolina State on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT).
“This group is inspiring, just what they have worked for every single day,” third-year head coach Boomer Saia said. “South Carolina was probably one of the hottest teams in the country, I think they had won eight of their last 10 and made the semis of their conference tournament. To drop the doubles point to them and come back and win four singles matches in straight sets, just a really determined group. They are believing and they are fighting for each other and its an exciting moment.”
After South Carolina took the doubles point, the Gamecocks extended their lead to 2-0 with a win at No. 2 singles.
With the match being played indoors and just four courts available, No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 singles were still being played and the Cyclones couldn’t give up much more ground.
Iowa State’s Thasaporn Naklo responded with a huge win at No. 1 singles over the nation’s No. 30 player, Mia Horvit. Naklo disposed of Horvit, 6-2, 6-4, to earn her fifth career ranked victory.
Freshman Miska Kadleckova then took down No. 87 Emma Shelton with a 6-3, 7-5 victory to tie the match up, 2-2. Kadleckova improved to 15-3 in singles action this season, including a 7-1 mark at No. 3 singles. It was her first career victory over a ranked opponent.
Christin Hsieh put the Cyclones in front with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Allie Gretkowski to leave ISU within striking distance of making more history in an already historical season.
Enter Chie Kezuka and Sofia Cabezas, ISU’s ultra-reliable players at the No. 5 and No. 6 slots.
The pair didn’t disappoint. Ultimately it was Kezuka who clinched with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win over Ana Cruz at No. 5. Cabezas was en route to a victory, leading 6-2, 3-3 when the Cyclone celebration ensued.
It was the fifth match this season that Kezuka has clinched for the Cyclones.
“Chie handled it great,” Saia said. “She is stepping up in those moments and being confident. It is one of the coolest feelings to just witness as a coach and I’m elated and so proud of our group.”
The teams battled in three tough doubles contests, but the point eventually went to the Gamecocks with wins at No. 1 and No. 3.
Kadleckova and Cabezas teamed up for a 6-4 win at No. 2 that sent it over to the decisive third court where Maty Cancini and Ting-Pei Chang were locked in a battle with South Carolina’s Cruz and Gretkowski. The Cyclone tandem came up short, falling 6-4.
This is Iowa State’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in Saia’s third year leading the program. The win over the 24th-ranked Gamecocks marks the highest ranked team ISU has ever beaten and is the fifth ranked win of the season.
Doubles Results
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
#1 – #14 Megan Davies/Mia Horvit (SC) def. Thasaporn Naklo/Christin Hsieh (ISU), 6-2
#2 – Miska Kadleckova/Sofia Cabezas (ISU) def. Silvia Chinellato/Emma Shelton (SC), 6-4
#3 – Ana Cruz/Allie Gretkowski (SC) def. Maty Cancini/Ting-Pei Chang (ISU), 6-4
Singles Results
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3, 4, 5
#1 – Naklo (ISU) def. #30 Horvit (SC), 6-2, 6-4
#2 – #59 Davies (SC) def. Cancini (ISU), 6-3, 6-0
#3 – Kadleckova (ISU) def. #87 Shelton (SC), 6-3, 7-5
#4 – Hsieh (ISU) def. Gretkowski (SC), 7-5, 6-4
#5 – Chie Kezuka (ISU) def. Cruz (SC), 6-0, 6-1
#6 – Cabezas (ISU) vs. Mills (SC), 6-2, 3-3 UF
RALEIGH, N.C. – Down 2-0 with its backs against the wall the No. 36 Iowa State tennis team responded to upset No. 24 South Carolina, 4-2, and advance to the second round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Tournament.
The Cyclones improved to 14-7 overall, while South Carolina finishes its season with a 12-12 mark. The Cyclones will face the winner of VCU and the No. 6 overall seed North Carolina State on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT).
“This group is inspiring, just what they have worked for every single day,” third-year head coach Boomer Saia said. “South Carolina was probably one of the hottest teams in the country, I think they had won eight of their last 10 and made the semis of their conference tournament. To drop the doubles point to them and come back and win four singles matches in straight sets, just a really determined group. They are believing and they are fighting for each other and its an exciting moment.”
After South Carolina took the doubles point, the Gamecocks extended their lead to 2-0 with a win at No. 2 singles.
With the match being played indoors and just four courts available, No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 singles were still being played and the Cyclones couldn’t give up much more ground.
Iowa State’s Thasaporn Naklo responded with a huge win at No. 1 singles over the nation’s No. 30 player, Mia Horvit. Naklo disposed of Horvit, 6-2, 6-4, to earn her fifth career ranked victory.
Freshman Miska Kadleckova then took down No. 87 Emma Shelton with a 6-3, 7-5 victory to tie the match up, 2-2. Kadleckova improved to 15-3 in singles action this season, including a 7-1 mark at No. 3 singles. It was her first career victory over a ranked opponent.
Christin Hsieh put the Cyclones in front with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Allie Gretkowski to leave ISU within striking distance of making more history in an already historical season.
Enter Chie Kezuka and Sofia Cabezas, ISU’s ultra-reliable players at the No. 5 and No. 6 slots.
The pair didn’t disappoint. Ultimately it was Kezuka who clinched with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win over Ana Cruz at No. 5. Cabezas was en route to a victory, leading 6-2, 3-3 when the Cyclone celebration ensued.
It was the fifth match this season that Kezuka has clinched for the Cyclones.
“Chie handled it great,” Saia said. “She is stepping up in those moments and being confident. It is one of the coolest feelings to just witness as a coach and I’m elated and so proud of our group.”
The teams battled in three tough doubles contests, but the point eventually went to the Gamecocks with wins at No. 1 and No. 3.
Kadleckova and Cabezas teamed up for a 6-4 win at No. 2 that sent it over to the decisive third court where Maty Cancini and Ting-Pei Chang were locked in a battle with South Carolina’s Cruz and Gretkowski. The Cyclone tandem came up short, falling 6-4.
This is Iowa State’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in Saia’s third year leading the program. The win over the 24th-ranked Gamecocks marks the highest ranked team ISU has ever beaten and is the fifth ranked win of the season.
Doubles Results
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
#1 – #14 Megan Davies/Mia Horvit (SC) def. Thasaporn Naklo/Christin Hsieh (ISU), 6-2
#2 – Miska Kadleckova/Sofia Cabezas (ISU) def. Silvia Chinellato/Emma Shelton (SC), 6-4
#3 – Ana Cruz/Allie Gretkowski (SC) def. Maty Cancini/Ting-Pei Chang (ISU), 6-4
Singles Results
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3, 4, 5
#1 – Naklo (ISU) def. #30 Horvit (SC), 6-2, 6-4
#2 – #59 Davies (SC) def. Cancini (ISU), 6-3, 6-0
#3 – Kadleckova (ISU) def. #87 Shelton (SC), 6-3, 7-5
#4 – Hsieh (ISU) def. Gretkowski (SC), 7-5, 6-4
#5 – Chie Kezuka (ISU) def. Cruz (SC), 6-0, 6-1
#6 – Cabezas (ISU) vs. Mills (SC), 6-2, 3-3 UF
