Indiana women’s tennis split its matches Friday and Sunday against Iowa and Nebraska at home. The Hoosiers came back from behind against the Hawkeyes, giving them a strong ranked win early in the season.
Against Iowa on Friday, Indiana started slow in the doubles series after the duo of junior Chase Boyer and senior Nicole Teodosescu dropped the No. 3 doubles match 6-4.
Junior Elisabeth Dunac and freshman Ameia Sorey dropped the doubles two match 6-3 right after, giving the Hawkeyes an early 1-0 lead and putting the Hoosiers behind early. Freshmen Hi’ilani Williams and Alessandra Teodosescu led the doubles one match 5-4 before it was left unfinished, as Iowa had already earned the doubles point.
The Hoosiers looked to find their footing in the singles matches facing a 1-0 deficit. Williams got the team off to an efficient start, winning the singles five match in straight sets 6-2, 6-1, tying the match at one.
Dunac continued the Hoosiers' momentum in singles play, winning the No. 3 singles match in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, which brought the score to 2-1 in favor of Indiana.
Sophomore Nicole Sifuentes extended the Hoosier lead in the match, winning No. 6 singles 6-1, 6-4. Sorey dropped the No. 1 singles match 6-4, 6-0, allowing the Hawkeyes within one point of Indiana at 3-2. Heading into the sixth point, the Hoosiers looked to close the match and shut down any hopes of a Hawkeye comeback.
Nicole Teodosescu secured the match point for the Hoosiers in the No. 4 singles match, winning 7-5, 6-4. The results gave the Hoosiers a ranked win in Big Ten play, their second of the season so far as Indiana defeated then-No. 64 Minnesota on March 15.
Against Nebraska on Sunday, Nicole Teodosescu and Boyer picked up a win in No. 3 doubles 6-1. Williams and Alessandra Teodosescu dropped the No. 1 doubles match 6-4, and Dunac and Sorey dropped the No. 2 doubles match 6-4, giving Nebraska an early 1-0 lead.
Indiana started the singles series on the right foot, as Alessandra Teodosescu picked up the win in No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-0. However, the Cornhuskers stopped the Hoosiers’ momentum right after, as Nicole Teodosescu dropped No. 4 singles 2-6, 6-2, 6-0. Sifuentes got Indiana back on the board, winning No. 6 singles 7-6, 7-5, to tie the score at 2-2.
Nebraska dominated the remainder of the match. Williams dropped No. 5 singles 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, while Sorey dropped singles one 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, giving Nebraska a 4-2 win.
With the split this weekend, the Hoosiers now sit at a 12-7 overall record with a 2-5 record in Big Ten play.
Indiana will now take on Rutgers at noon April 3 at Rutgers and Maryland at noon April 5 at Maryland.
