On the eve of their NCAA Tournament opener, four members of the Kansas tennis team earned awards from the Big 12 conference.
A senior transfer, Despoina Vogasari, was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year on Thursday, and made the All-Big 12 singles first team and doubles second team.
Junior Anastasia Rychagova achieved first-team status in singles, as well, while picking up a spot on the doubles second team with KU teammate Nina Khmelnitckaia, a junior. Vogasari joined sophomore Maria Toran Ribes on the doubles second team.
Vogassari enters Friday’s opening-round matchup with Denver 24-9 in singles, 13-4 in duals and on a 10-match win streak, the longest of her career.
Rychagova, currently ranked No. 8, made All-Big 12 for the third year in a row, a first for the KU program, currently ranked 18th nationally.
The Jayhawks (15-6) face Denver (19-4) beginning at noon CT, at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center in Malibu, California.
Vogassari will play both the No. 1 and 2 positions for KU in the dual.