Iowa women’s tennis searches for smooth transition from fall season
The Hawkeye women’s tennis squad looks for a smooth transition from the fall to spring season.
Junior Dori Huckleby returns a volley during Iowa’s meet against Minnesota at the HTRC on April 20, 2018.The Hawkeyes were defeated 4-3.
January 16, 2019
Iowa women’s tennis will get the spring season underway on Friday, hosting Xavier in the home-opener.
Last season, the Hawkeyes were much more experienced, using five upperclassmen, four of whom were seniors. However, this season will be rather different; the Hawkeyes will have five newbies: freshmen Michelle Bacalla, Sophie Clark, Cloe Ruette, Samantha Mannix and sophomore transfer Ashleigh Jacobs from Gonzaga.
With that, here are some numbers that will give an idea on how Iowa will stack up in the Big Ten.
2 — Upperclassmen
That’s right, only two upperclassmen remain on the Hawkeye roster.
After losing three senior letter winners — Montana Crawford, Zoe Douglas, and Anastasia Reimchen — lone senior Adorabol Huckleby and junior Elise van Heuvelen Treadwell remain to lead the inexperienced group.
Elise van Heuvelen celebrates during Iowa’s meet against Minnesota at the HTRC on April 20, 2018.The Hawkeyes were defeated 4-3.
Huckleby, a former Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, has been one of the more vocal leaders for Iowa in years past. Undoubtedly, it’s what she’ll need to continue to do this season as she and two-time All-Big Ten performer van Heuvelen Treadwell prepare to set the example for the younger athletes.
.421 — Fall doubles winning percentage
That was the percentage the Hawkeyes posted this fall season after falling to 16-22 in doubles.
Obviously, that was not what head coach Sasha Schmid had envisioned entering the season. However, the percentage is deceiving.
Although the Hawkeyes were below .500 in doubles, they managed to go 29-19 (.604) in singles, a positive note given how youthful the team is.
Even more so, these numbers are not a huge concern because the team only played in two tournaments this fall season; in years past, Iowa played at least twice as many.
Playing in the first few college matches is not easy, especially when paired with an unfamiliar partner, and it showed for Iowa.
RELATED: Hawkeye women’s tennis opens 2019 at Metroplex Mania
0 — Injuries
For the first time in a long time, the Hawkeyes will start the season healthy.
Last season, injuries crippled Iowa, especially to such key players as Yufei Long, Reimchen, and Douglas. It was one of the main reasons Iowa fell to 10-14, 4-9 on the road.
Again this fall, the Hawkeyes couldn’t stay healthy. For the majority of time in the fall, veteran van Heuvelen Treadwell was out with a wrist injury before coming back in her lone November appearance. She went 2-1 in the Rebel Tennis Women’s Invitational.
Now, the Hawkeyes are set to put it all together as they have no apparent injuries.
After Xavier comes to town, Iowa will take on North Texas at the Tennis Complex on Jan. 20. The Hawkeyes will then hit the road to Hanover, New Hampshire, to compete against Dartmouth and Brown Jan. 26-27.
