After dropping five of the six first sets in singles play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Kansas tennis team never recovered against No. 12 Pepperdine.
The Jayhawks’ season ended with a 4-1 loss at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center, Saturday, in Malibu, Calif.
No. 18 KU scored its only point in doubles. After both the Waves (24-2) and Jayhawks (16-7) claimed a doubles match apiece, KU’s Despoina Vogasari and Maria Toran Ribes won in a tie-breaker.
KU’s doubles team of Janet Koch and Amber Policare won first, to set up the Jayhawks’ point in doubles.
Pepperdine dominated in singles, though, winning four matches to seal a trip to the Round of 16 before the other two singles matches concluded.
Kansas carried a top-20 ranking for 11 straight weeks this season, tied for second place in the Big 12 Conference’s regular season, earned its third NCAA Tournament bid in a row and won its first NCAA Tournament match since 1999.
“This team overcame a lot of adversity this season,” head coach Todd Chapman said, “and we are stronger program moving forward because of it. We have a lot to look forward to and we are one step closer to being one of the top teams in the country.”
