John YoungKansas University’s women’s tennis team used a fast start and a come-from-behind singles win to blank West Virginia, 4-0, Sunday afternoon at the Jayhawk Tennis Center.
KU improved to 6-8 overall, 2-2 in the Big 12.
“I thought the biggest thing today was that we fought, and at the end of the day that was what won us the match,” KU coach Todd Chapman said. “It was 4-0, but that was a heck of a lot closer than 4-0. West Virginia played well, and I felt like it could’ve gone either way.”
Kansas got out to a quick start taking early leads on all three doubles courts. After clinching wins on courts one and two, the Jayhawks jumped to a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
Maria Belen Ludueña, sealed the victory for Kansas, downing Kaja Mrgole in a three-set decision. After dropping the first set, 3-6, Luduena clawed her way back to steal the second set from an exasperated Mrgole, 6-4, forcing a third set. After jumping out 4-0 in the third set, Ludueña eventually outlasted Mrgole, 6-0, clinching Kansas’ second-consecutive victory closing out the Jayhawks five-game home stand.
“I think the big thing is that Belen has matured this year and she doesn’t allow one set to affect the next,” Chapman said. “I feel like she’s doing a really good job of that when she gets leads she closes things out and doesn’t make things harder on herself. Mentally, she is approaching those situations in a much more mature way than she used too and much tougher mindset and I think that’s the key.”
No. 65 Kansas 4, West Virginia 0
Doubles
No. 1 – Alexis Czapinski/Maria Belen Luduena (KU) def. Hailey Barrett/Carolina Lewis (WVU) 6-3
No. 2- Madison Harrison/Smith Hinton (KU) def. Ikttesh Chahal/Habiba Shaker (WVU) 6-1
No. 3 – Kaja Mrgole/Yvon Martinez (WVU) vs. Rachel McNeely/Summer Collins (KU) 5-3 unfinished
Singles
No. 1 – Maria Belen Luduena (KU) def. Kaja Mrgole (ISU) 6-3, 4-6, 5-0
No. 2 – Smith Hinton (KU) vs. Hailey Barrett (WVU) 6-4, 7-6, 4-0 unfinished
No. 3 – Madison Harrison (KU) def. Ikttesh Chahal (WVU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 4 – Habiba Shaker (WVU) vs. Summer Collins (KU) 6-2, 2-6, 5-5 unfinished
No. 5 – Rachel McNeely (KU) vs. Carolina Lewis (WVU) 6-7, 4-5 unfinished
No. 6 – Alexis Czapinski (KU) def. Yvon Martinez (WVU) 6-3, 6-1
