The ASU women’s tennis team swept both Iowa State and UC Davis in the first weekend of the dual meet season.
The No. 20 Sun Devils (2-0) were led by doubles play and won all six of their doubles matches over the weekend.
In her first dual meet doubles match, ASU freshman Jacqueline Cako paired up with senior Kelcy McKenna and defeated ISU juniors Tessa Lang and Maria Fernanda Macedo (8-6) on Friday.
Cako also won her first dual meet singles match over Macedo in two sets (6-2, 6-2).
ASU senior Ashlee Brown and junior Sianna Simmons beat ISU sophomore Jenna Langhorst and junior Marie-Christine Chartier (8-2), while ASU junior Michelle Brycki and sophomore Hannah James took an 8-1 victory over ISU seniors Erin Karonis and Liza Wischer.
“We expected to have good matches,” McInerney said. “Everyone played well. It’s different in dual season playing for your team versus playing for yourself.”
In singles play McKenna dominated her match against Karonis, beating her 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 1 spot.
“Kelcy played great,” ASU coach Clint Letcher said. “She was on and off quick. She got the job done.”
Only one match went to the third set on Friday, with sophomore Hannah James defeating ISU sophomore Jenna Langhorst 10-4 in a tiebreaker.
UC Davis beat ISU on Saturday, and was a tougher matchup for the Sun Devils, but again only one match went to three sets.
“Their singles were pretty good,” McInerney said.
Although it was extremely windy on Sunday, McKenna didn’t let external factors affect her, and she beat UC Davis junior Dahra Zamudio in two sets (6-3, 6-2).
“I wasn’t expecting it to be as windy as it was,” McKenna said. “It was a good experience, though, because in Miami it can be a little windy and we’re heading there next weekend.”
According to McKenna, both matches were tough to play.
“ISU and UC Davis competed really well, and overall it was a good weekend to open up and play our first two duals,” McKenna said.
ASU senior Micaela Hein was thrown into the doubles mix on Sunday as she paired up with McKenna and defeated UC Davis freshmen Megan Heneghan and Kelly Chui (8-3).
Hein then played the in the No. 3 spot and defeated UC Davis sophomore Ellie Edles (6-3, 6-2).
Cako defeated Heneghan in the No. 2 spot with a 6-3, 6-2 win, while Brycki took a 6-2, 6-2 victory over UC Davis freshman Nicole Koehly (6-2, 6-2), and James defeated Chui (6-2, 6-3).
Only Brown’s match made it to three sets, where she defeated UC Davis’ sophomore Lauren Curry 10-4 in a tiebreaker.
Reach the reporter at nicole.klauss@asu.edu
