The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Women’s tennis honors seniors

Aimee+Tarun+and+Kristen+Thoms+celebrate+a+point+during+their+doubles+match+against+Northern+Illinois+Pauline+Chawafambira+and+Abigail+Dekkinga+Zoe+Douglas+during+her+singles+match+against+Northern+Illinois+Pauline+Chawafambira++on+January+28%2C+2017+at+the+Hawkeye+Tennis+and+Recreation+Complex.+%28The+Daily+Iowan%2FOsama+Khalid%29
Aimee Tarun and Kristen Thoms celebrate a point during their doubles match against Northern Illinois’ Pauline Chawafambira and Abigail Dekkinga Zoe Douglas during her singles match against Northern Illinois’ Pauline Chawafambira on January 28, 2017 at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. (The Daily Iowan/Osama Khalid)

By Nicholas Moreano

[email protected]

The Iowa women’s tennis team will honor Aimee Tarun and Natalie Looney on Senior Day April 22 against Nebraska at noon at the Hawkeye Tennis & Recreation Complex in its last match of the regular season.

Last weekend, the Hawkeyes dropped both of their matches to Michigan and Michigan State. Head coach Sasha Schmid liked what she saw in the close 4-3 loss to the Wolverines but thought her team could have played more competitively against the Spartans.

“I thought we did a great job of winning the doubles point against Michigan State, but after that, we weren’t as competitive as we have been all season when it came to singles play,” Schmid said.

After two-consecutive losses, however, the Hawkeyes seem to have found the right attitude.

“Coming off of two losses this past weekend only makes us hungrier,” Tarun said. “We had a great battle with Michigan, which is a top-10 team and just came out on the wrong end. We take confidence from that, and this past weekend motivates us to work hard all week so that we can play well on Saturday and beat a quality opponent.”

It will take an entire team effort to get the victory over the Cornhuskers, who currently rank No. 7 in the Big Ten standings with an 18-6 record.

In the all-time series between the two programs, the Hawkeyes have a 17-8 advantage.

The matchup will be a great opportunity for the Hawkeyes, who are 9-3 at home, to add another victory, because the Cornhuskers have struggled on the road this season, posting a 2-4 record.

The opportunity for the Hawkeyes to close out the final match of the regular season with a win before they head to the Big Ten Tournament in Illinois is a moment junior Anastasia Reimchen anticipated.

“It’s always good to finish the season off with a win, especially at home,” Reimchen said. “We have worked so hard for this day, and it’s our moment to shine and prove to everyone just how much we’ve improved.”

One way the Hawkeyes can secure a victory against the Cornhuskers is by starting off fast. Schmid has preached all season of the importance of winning the doubles point.

With the No. 1 duo of freshman Elise van Heuvelen and sophomore Adorabol Huckleby and No. 3 pairing of Tarun and junior Montana Crawford, they are capable of providing the fast start Schmid desires.

Looney will not participate in the match because of an injury, but for Tarun, this will be her last time playing at home.

The emotions will be running at an all-time high for the two seniors as their college careers come to an end, but each look forward to it.

“I think it will be a really good day to end our season on a high note and get a good team win against Nebraska to go into the Big Ten Tournament,” Tarun said.

 

 

 

 

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