Iowa junior Mia Mack serves the ball at a tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The Hawkeyes defeated Illinois 4-3, with Mack winning the tie-breaking match. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan)
On Sunday afternoon, Iowa tennis team defeated Illinois 4-3 at their women’s dual match in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa. Junior Mia Mack lifted the Hawkeyes to victory with her third set tiebreak win against Illinois senior McKenna Schaefbaur.
The Hawkeyes secured the doubles point early on before building a 3-0 lead in singles play, with individual wins from Tereza Dejnozkova and Emma Tothová. The Fighting Illini rallied to tie the match 3-3, which forced a deciding match between Mack and Schaefbaur. Mack landed the team an overall win, which improved Iowa’s record to 8-5 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play.
Iowa heads to Michigan on Friday, March 13, to compete against Michigan State at 4 p.m. CDT.
Iowa faced Illinois at a women’s dual tennis match in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The meet began with double’s matches and concluded with a tie-breaking victory from senior Mia Mack that bumped the Hawkeyes to a 4-3 win over Illinois. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Iowa senior Daianne Hayashida prepares to return a serve during a dual tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The Hawkeye’s win over Illinois puts them at 8-5 for the 2025-2026 season. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Iowa sophomore Emma Tothová towels off during her match at a women’s dual tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Tothová won her individual match against Illinois sophomore Tess Bucher to help the Hawkeyes to a 4-3 victory. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Iowa sophomore Emma Tothová and senior Pia Kranholdt shake hands with their doubles opponents at a women’s dual tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The Hawkeyes won against Illinois 4-3. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Iowa senior Nikita Vishwase prepares to receive a serve at a women’s dual tennis match in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The Hawkeyes beat Illinois in a tie-breaking match, and the final score was 4-3. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Iowa fans cheer for the Hawkeyes during a dual tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The Hawkeye’s 4-3 victory over Illinois gives them a two game winning streak. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Illinois senior McKenna Schaefbauer returns a shot during her match with Iowa junior Mia Mack at a tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Illinois fell to the Hawkeyes 4-3. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Iowa senior Daianne Hayashida prepares to return a serve during a dual tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeye’s win over Illinois puts them at 8-5 for the 2025-2026 season. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Illinois freshman Kimiko Cooper cheers with the rest of the Illinois women’s tennis team during the final set of the tie breaking match during a dual tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The Hawkeyes won the final match and defeated Illinois 4-3. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Iowa junior Mia Mack prepares to receive a serve at a dual tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The Hawkeyes defeated Illinois 4-3, with Mack winning the tie-breaking match. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)The Illinois women’s tennis team cheers for senior McKenna Schaefbaur during the tie breaking match at a dual tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex in Iowa City, Iowa on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The Hawkeyes won the final match and defeated Illinois 4-3. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Iowa junior Mia Mack celebrates with her team after her tie-breaking win against Illinois senior McKenna Schaefbaur at a tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Mack’s victory gave the Hawkeyes the win over Illinois, 4-3. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)Iowa junior Mia Mack celebrates with her team after her tie-breaking win against Illinois senior McKenna Schaefbaur at a tennis match between Iowa and Illinois in the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Mack’s victory gave the Hawkeyes the win over Illinois, 4-3. (Liz Sleper/The Daily Iowan) (Liz Sleper)
