The Kansas women’s tennis team fell in a thrilling match against Wichita State, dropping a 4-3 decision on Saturday at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex.
The Jayhawks commenced doubles play with a tone-setting victory on court three, where Tiffany Lagarde and Carmen Roxana Manu defeated Alexandra Lazarova and Natsumi Kurahashi by a 6-2 margin. Sonia Smagina and Vasiliki Karvouni were then bested, 6-3, by Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva and Marta Bellucco on court one.
Malkia Ngounoue and Julia Deming battled WSU’s pair of Ting-Ya Hsu and Jessie Zheng, but ultimately was on the wrong end of a 6-3 match to surrender doubles point.
The Shockers increased their lead to 2-0 after the first match in singles play. Ngounoue eventually put the Jayhawks on the board with a win in her respective singles match on court two.
Deming defeated Wichita State’s Lazarova on court six. Karvouni then earned a three-set victory on court four to even the score. The fate of the match rested on the outcome of court five, a match that ultimately went the distance before Legarde lost to Zheng in the end.
Kansas will host Kansas State at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Wichita State 4, No. 45 Kansas 3
Singles competition
1: Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) def. #81 Sonia Smagina (KAN) 6-4, 6-1
2: Malkia Ngounoue (KAN) def. Marta Bellucco (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
3: Ting-Ya Hsu (WSU) def. Carmen Roxana Manu (KAN) 6-2, 6-3
4: Vassiliki Karvouni (KAN) def. Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
5: Jessie Zheng (WSU) def. Tiffany Lagarde (KAN) 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3
6: Julia Deming (KAN) def. Alexandra Lazarova (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1: #23 Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva/Marta Bellucco (WSU) def. Sonia Smagina/Vassiliki Karvouni (KAN) 6-3
2: Ting-Ya Hsu/Jessie Zheng (WSU) def. Malkia Ngounoue/Julia Deming (KAN) 6-3
3: Tiffany Lagarde/Carmen Roxana Manu (KAN) def. Alexandra Lazarova/Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) 6-2
