Ames, Iowa ? Shorthanded Kansas University surrendered two matches to illness forfeit and dropped the doubles points, but still managed to down Iowa State, 4-2, in a Big 12 tennis match Sunday.
KU improved to 14-5 overall, 4-2 in the Big 12 and 42-3 all-time against the Cyclones.
“Today was tough mentally and physically,” Kansas coach Todd Chapman said. “We really grew up this weekend and handled adversity well. Playing a player down all weekend and today losing the doubles point put us in a hole. I thought the girls responded and competed really well to dig ourselves out of a 2-0 deficit. I am proud of the team we are becoming, and that is a group of tough competitors.”
Sophomore Summer Collins was ill and was scratched from the lineup. KU had to forfeit matches at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles.
ISU’s No. 2 doubles team of Anna Bonadonna-Alejandra Galvis dropped KU’s Anastasiya Rychagova and Smith Hinton, 6-3, to claim the doubles points. That and the forfeit at No. 6 singles gave ISU a 2-0 lead.
But Jayhawks Rychagova (No. 1), Janet Koch (No. 3), Nina Khmelnitckaia (No. 4) and Maria Jose Cardona (No. 5) won two-set singles matches to take the match.
Kansas will travel Saturday to Kansas State.
Doubles
Nina Khmelnitckaia-Janet Koch, KU, def. Samantha Budai-Liza Buss, 6-3
Anna Bonadonna-Alejandra Galvis, ISU, def. Anastasiya Rychagova-Smith Hinton, 6-3
Ana Gasparovic-Regina Espindola, ISU, won by forfeit
Singles
Rychagova, KU, def. Budai, 6-1, 6-2
Smith Hinton, KU, vs. Buss, 6-4, 1-6, 2-1, unfinished
Koch, KU, def. Galvis, 6-1, 6-1
Khmelnitckaia, KU, def. Espindola, 7-5, 6-2
Maria Jose Cardona, KU, def. Bonadonna, 6-3, 7-5
Claudia Toleda, ISU, won by forfeit
