Sofia Cabezas in action during Iowa State’s 4-1 Sweet 16 win over UCLA. Photo Courtesy Jared Larson, special to CF.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s Sofia Cabezas had lost three match points in a row to UCLA’s Sasha Vagramov.
While Cabezas’ match was in the waning moments, Thasaporn Nacklo – Iowa State’s top player and the No. 66 ranked player in the country – upset UCLA’s Fangran Tian (ranked No. 14) – winning six straight sets in the second game to clinch it. It was Fangran’s second singles match loss of the season.
The delay in a match point for Cabezas allowed the rest of the team available to see Cabezas secure the Elite Eight clinching point.
“I know we can beat anyone in the country, Cabezas said after the match. “I’m sure of that.”
The Cyclones started the day with the same mentality and strategy that has allowed it to thrive in matches this season, and for the 21st time in 26 tries, they secured the doubles point again. The team is 20-1 when securing a doubles point and 1-4 when failing.
Iowa State’s No. 2 and No. 3 doubles pairs – Ange Oby Kajuru/Xinyi Nong and Miska Kadleckova/Sofia Cabezas – improved to a combined 30-7 on the year.
“We were hungry and we talked about that – about how our mindsets need to be right going into that doubles (session) and man, did we come out ready to go,” Iowa State coach Boomer Saia said. “Two and three just put a big point on the board and that carries a lot of momentum in these matches. We talked about you know, ‘hey, all we need to do is go win 51 or 52 percent of these points and it’s going to swing our way.'”
The trip to the final weekend of the tournament is something Iowa State has never sniffed before as a program.
“I’m just proud,” Saia said. “To watch a group of special individuals go and put it on the line here in front of 200 people, to go make final site – it’s cool. I’m elated. I’m so happy for our group, for our staff, and for Iowa State Athletics. The vision we had – to see that come to fruition and play and compete for a national title, legitimately. Golly, Im so proud of what this group accomplished.”
That has this group as motivated as any – and they don’t see any reason to slow down.
“It’s another step forward, going to the Sweet 16 – where we’ve never been, and now to the Elite 8,” Saia said. “We might as well make a run at the whole darn thing.”
Iowa State will play against either No. 4 NC State or No. 18 Auburn in Orlando on Wednesday in the quarterfinal match.
A win would secure a birth in the final four.
“I think we’re peaking,” Saia said. “That’s what you want. That’s what you preach. Hey, we want to peak in April and May, and this group’s coming together. We’re just finding ways and that’s the Cyclone mentality.”
