No. 17-ranked Kansas tennis began its homestand of five-consecutive Big 12 Conference matches with a 5-2 victory over No. 25 Texas Tech Friday night at the Jayhawk Tennis Center.
Ranked No. 5 in the nation, the senior Jayhawk duo of Janet Koch and Nina Khmelnitckaia bested Lana Rush and Kennedy Bridgforth, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles. Kansas’ second nationally ranked duo, No. 61 Anastasia Rychagova and Sonia Smagina, triumphed over Nell Miller and Felicity Maltby at No. 2 doubles, 6-3, giving the Jayhawks the doubles point.
The third doubles match on court 3 between KU’s Maria Toran Ribes and Malkia Ngounoue and Tech’s Olivia Peet and Reagan Collins went unfinished after Kansas claimed the doubles point. It marks the 15th time in 16 matches that KU has claimed doubles point.
In singles, No. 101-ranked Koch blasted her way past Francesca Sella at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-1, giving KU the 2-0 lead. Toran Ribes defeated Rush at No. 6 singles, 6-2, 6-3, moving Kansas one point away from the win.
Rychagova, the nation’s No. 23-ranked singles player, triumphed over No. 48-ranked Maltby, 6-3, 6-2, giving Kansas a 4-0 lead and clinching the match.
Kansas (12-4, 3-2 Big 12) will play host to TCU at 12 p.m. Sunday.
