Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Iowa
Ram tennis plays tough against No. 38 Iowa
3/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 7, 2008
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State women's tennis team faced its first nationally ranked opponent of the year Friday. The Rams were unable to win, falling to No. 38 Iowa at Miramont Lifestyle Fitness, but they gave the Hawkeyes (8-0) one of their toughest matches of the season.
After sweeping doubles less than a week ago, the Rams (3-3, 0-0 MWC) were unable to handle a relentless Iowa squad. Of the three doubles teams, the No. 1 pair of junior Lauren Strasburger and senior Hilary Tyler gave Iowa the best run. Facing a 13-4 doubles team, the duo was able to win five games, but came up short, losing 8-5. Sophomore tandem Laura Neal and Anette Pohjalainen moved to 3-3 in dual play, as they fell 8-3. At No. 3, Sarah Seltsam and Kirsten Stople were unable to improve, giving Iowa the doubles point and a 1-0 lead.
Singles play proved tough for the Rams, as they faced three players with a combined 19-0 dual record in Milica Veselinovic, Alexis Dorr and Lynne Poggensee-Wei.
Neal earned the first team point for the Rams, as she picked up a victory at the No. 3 spot in straight sets. She moved to 3-3 in dual play and 5-5 overall.
At No. 6 singles, freshman Caitlin Fluegge ended Poggensee-Wei's unbeaten streak and improved to 5-0 on the spring. Playing for pride after the match was clinched, Fluegge came out on top, picking up her team-high 11th overall singles victory, including fall matches.
At the No. 2 spot, Tyler faced senior counterpart Veselinovic. Battling for each and every game, Tyler did not make Veselinovic's move to 8-0 an easy one, falling in a close match, 7-6 (8), 7-5.
Also facing an unbeaten opponent, Pohjalainen took her match to three sets. Yet, she was unable to overcome an early deficit in the third set, falling to Dorr.
At No. 1 singles, Strasburger fell to senior Jacqueline Lee in straight sets while junior Greer Satherlie dropped her match at the No. 5 position.
"We played great against a highly ranked team," said Head Coach Jon Messick. "We gave ourselves a chance to win; we just didn't get the points we needed.
"We had a great effort, everything was close."
Attendance: 61
The Rams return to the court March 16 when they take on Southern Utah. The match is the first of a three-game trip to Las Vegas, Nev. The squad will also face Dixie State and Wisconsin-Green Bay March 17 and 18, respectively.
Friday's Results:
Doubles:
No. 1: Lee/Dorr (Iowa) def. Strasburger/Tyler (CSU); 8-5
No. 2: Beelen/Veselinovic (Iowa) def. Pohjalainen/Neal (CSU); 8-3
No. 3: Berry/Poggensee-Wei (Iowa) def. Seltsam/Stople (CSU); 8-4
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles:
No. 1: Jacqueline Lee (Iowa) def. Lauren Strasburger (CSU); 6-4, 6-1
No. 2: Milica Veselinovic (Iowa) def. Hilary Tyler (CSU); 7-6 (8), 7-5
No. 3: Laura Neal (CSU) def. Merel Beelen (Iowa); 6-4, 6-4
No. 4: Alexis Dorr (Iowa) def. Anette Pohjalainen (CSU); 7-6, 0-6, 6-2
No. 5: Kelcie Klockenga (Iowa) def. Greer Satherlie (CSU); 6-4, 6-2
No. 6: Caitlin Fluegge (CSU) def. Lynne Poggensee-Wei (Iowa); 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (8)
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6
