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127 e University of Iowa women's tennis team has a new lead saleswoman in head coach Sasha Schmid, and the Hawkeyes are buying every bit of her system. ree weeks into the Schmid era, Iowa is off to a quick start with a 3-0 record to begin the 2017 season. "ere has been a tremendous buy-in from the players," said Schmid. "I think they are listening. We are asking for a lot of focus, intensity, efficiency, and concentrating on not giving away free points." Schmid's new product puts a strong emphasis on mental stamina and efficient tennis. e backbone of this system is the practice ground where the Hawkeyes are putting in time and effort to improve every day. "We're trying to grow our mental stamina," said Schmid. "I think the team's tennis has improved and now we need to go out and find our rhythm and competiveness in matches. ey need to keep pushing themselves, and it all comes back to practice." "We need to be professional day-in and day-out," said freshman Elise van Heuvelen. "We need to continue to train well, compete, and get the job done by being efficient and having a good attitude throughout the week." e Hawkeyes started the 2017 spring season with a 5-2 road victory over Central Florida, in Orlando, Florida. ey returned home and blanked Creighton and Northern Illinois, 7-0, at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex. "We've had tough matches," said junior Anastasia Reimchen. "We learn more from each one and we get better. We need to continue to believe in our training." In each of the Hawkeyes' first three matches, van Heuvelen has won the No. 1 singles match. She was a three-set winner in her Hawkeye debut at UCF and dominated her second match against Creighton, winning in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1. e freshman then won her third match against Northern Illinois, 6-2 6-2. "e energy and intensity has increased throughout the matches," said van Heuvelen. "at helps you as an individual and also helps every other court. If you know someone on your team is winning it helps the momentum on all of the other courts" Senior Aimee Tarun is also 3-0 to start the season. She opened the year winning 24-of-25 points and is yet to drop a set. "at's hard to do. It takes a lot of focus," said Schmid. "It's easy to lose games even if you win matches. Aimee has been dedicated to staying focused on every point. I admire the example that she is setting for this team, especially as a senior." e Hawkeyes have seven nonconference matches in February before opening Big Ten play March 4. "We have to get back to hard work," said Schmid. "We need to keep getting better every day and stay hungry, never be satisfied, and look for daily improvement." FEBRUARY CALENDAR Feb. 5 Iowa State Feb. 5 Montana Feb. 11 Western Michigan Feb. 11 at Marquette Feb. 19 at UT-Arlington Feb. 25 Evansville Feb. 25 Western Illinois