Feb. 3, 2006

DENVER - After dropping the doubles point, the 49th-ranked University of Denver women's tennis team fought back to defeat No. 43 Iowa 5-2 Friday at Monaco Athletic Club. The Pioneers even to 2-2 on the season, while the Hawkeyes fall to 1-2.

"We knew going into today's match that we were facing a tough opponent in Iowa," said head coach Dana Young. "It was a very close, very exciting match. After dropping the doubles point, we really fought hard and came up with the big points that gave us the win."

It was only the second time this season that the Pioneers dropped the doubles point. However key wins at No. 1 and No. 3 by DU veterans Suzana Maksovic (Helsingborg, Sweden) and Rachel Sackmaster (Alpharetta, Ga.) made the difference.

Maksovic got her first victory of 2006, fighting back in the third set to defeat No. 21 Meg Racette 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3. Sackmaster (Alpharetta, Ga.) also recorded her first win of the season beating Hillary Mintz 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

In other singles results, Annette Aksdal (Oslo, Norway) ousted No. 93 Milica Veselinovic 6-4, 7-6(2), Kyla Iwinski (Marietta, Ga.) got the win against Merel Beelen, who retired after an ankle injury and Lorinda Boothman (Naples, Fla.) got the best of Kayla Berry by the score of 6-0, 6-1.

The Pioneers return to the court tomorrow, playing host to another Big Ten squad, Minnesota, at 5 p.m. at Monaco Athletic Club.

#49 Denver 5, #43 Iowa 2
2/3/2006 at Denver, Colo.

Singles competition
1. Suzana Maksovic (DEN-W) def. #21 Meg Racette (IOWA) 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3
2. Annette Aksdal (DEN-W) def. #93 Milica Veselinovic (IOWA) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
3. Rachel Sackmaster (DEN-W) def. Hillary Mintz (IOWA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Jacqueline Lee (IOWA) def. Marisa Mechem (DEN-W) 7-5, 6-2
5. Kyla Iwinski (DEN-W) def. Merel Beelen (IOWA) 6-4, 5-2, retired
6. Lorinda Boothman (DEN-W) def. Kayla Berry (IOWA) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Meg Racette/Jacqueline Lee (IOWA) def. Suzana Maksovic/Kyla Iwinski (DEN-W) 9-7
2. Hillary Mintz/Milica Veselinovic (IOWA) def. Annette Aksdal/Rachel Sackmaster (DEN-W) 9-8 (7-4)
3. Marisa Mechem/Lorinda Boothman (DEN-W) def. Merel Beelen/Kayla Berry (IOWA) 8-4

Match Notes
Iowa 1-2; National ranking #43
Denver 2-2; National ranking #49
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,2,1,3)
Official: Patty Bowman T-4:00