Kansas State University Athletics
Sunday, January 21
Miami, Fla.
12 p.m.
Kansas State University
3
at
4
Florida International
Cats Edged by FIU Sunday
Jan 21, 2018 | Tennis
K-State picks up three singles wins on the day
MIAMI – In its inaugural matchup with the Florida International Panthers, the K-State women's tennis team took its first team loss of the season, 4-3, at the FIU Tennis Courts on Sunday afternoon.
"Even though we took a tough loss I am pleased with today's performance," said head coach Danielle Steinberg. "We are not where we want to be in terms of match-play level and doubles, but we showed a lot of heart and fight today, despite playing in tough conditions for us. I told the team after the match that the tennis will get there, but with this kind of grit, I am confident this team can go far."
The matchup featured the Wildcats (1-1) against three Panthers (1-0) ranked in the top 15 of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.
The Panthers took an early 1-0 lead in Sunday's match by securing victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles positions. At No. 1 doubles, senior Carolina Costamagna and freshman Margot Decker were defeated by ITA's No. 15-ranked Maryna Veksler and Ulyana Grib, 2-6. The duo moves to 3-3 this season.
Senior Carolina Lewis and freshman Rosanna Maffei represented the Cats at No. 3 doubles, but suffered their first loss of the season. The duo was outlasted by the Panthers' Andrea Lazaro and Nerma Caluk, 4-6.
Prior to the doubles point being completed, the No. 2 doubles tandem of sophomore Ines Mesquita and freshman Maria Linares held a 5-2 lead over FIU's Nina Markovic and Sandra Bozinovic.
As singles play began, K-State claimed its first point of the day, knotting the game at 1-1, as Linares, playing at the No. 4 position, took care of business with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over FIU's Markovic. The freshman is now 8-3 in singles play to begin her career.
FIU took the next three singles points to secure a victory over K-State, moving the score to 4-1.
No. 1 singles Decker was beat by ITA's No. 3 Lazaro, 4-6, 1-6. The French product drops to 6-2 in her career.
Costamagna, representing the Cats at the No. 2 position, was defeated by Veeksler, 2-6, 4-6. The senior is now 8-7 this season, and 1-1 at the No. 2 position.
It took three sets for Lewis, playing at No. 6, to be overcome by the Panthers' Bozinovic, 7-5, 2-6, 1-6. Lewis, the transfer-senior native of Hilton Head, South Carolina, moves to 1-1 this season.
K-State gritted out two points at the end, each in the three sets, with Maffei, playing at the No. 3 position, overtaking Grib, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The freshman of Atripalda, Italy, moves to 6-3 this season.
Mesquita competed at the No. 5 singles spot and bounced back from an opening set loss to defeat Caulk in three sets, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.
The Cats will travel to Santa Barbara, California, to face UC Santa Barbara at the UCSB tennis courts on February 3 at 4 p.m. CT. Fans can follow action on the official K-State women's tennis Twitter account @KStateTEN.
"Even though we took a tough loss I am pleased with today's performance," said head coach Danielle Steinberg. "We are not where we want to be in terms of match-play level and doubles, but we showed a lot of heart and fight today, despite playing in tough conditions for us. I told the team after the match that the tennis will get there, but with this kind of grit, I am confident this team can go far."
The matchup featured the Wildcats (1-1) against three Panthers (1-0) ranked in the top 15 of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.
The Panthers took an early 1-0 lead in Sunday's match by securing victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles positions. At No. 1 doubles, senior Carolina Costamagna and freshman Margot Decker were defeated by ITA's No. 15-ranked Maryna Veksler and Ulyana Grib, 2-6. The duo moves to 3-3 this season.
Senior Carolina Lewis and freshman Rosanna Maffei represented the Cats at No. 3 doubles, but suffered their first loss of the season. The duo was outlasted by the Panthers' Andrea Lazaro and Nerma Caluk, 4-6.
Prior to the doubles point being completed, the No. 2 doubles tandem of sophomore Ines Mesquita and freshman Maria Linares held a 5-2 lead over FIU's Nina Markovic and Sandra Bozinovic.
As singles play began, K-State claimed its first point of the day, knotting the game at 1-1, as Linares, playing at the No. 4 position, took care of business with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over FIU's Markovic. The freshman is now 8-3 in singles play to begin her career.
FIU took the next three singles points to secure a victory over K-State, moving the score to 4-1.
No. 1 singles Decker was beat by ITA's No. 3 Lazaro, 4-6, 1-6. The French product drops to 6-2 in her career.
Costamagna, representing the Cats at the No. 2 position, was defeated by Veeksler, 2-6, 4-6. The senior is now 8-7 this season, and 1-1 at the No. 2 position.
It took three sets for Lewis, playing at No. 6, to be overcome by the Panthers' Bozinovic, 7-5, 2-6, 1-6. Lewis, the transfer-senior native of Hilton Head, South Carolina, moves to 1-1 this season.
K-State gritted out two points at the end, each in the three sets, with Maffei, playing at the No. 3 position, overtaking Grib, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The freshman of Atripalda, Italy, moves to 6-3 this season.
Mesquita competed at the No. 5 singles spot and bounced back from an opening set loss to defeat Caulk in three sets, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.
The Cats will travel to Santa Barbara, California, to face UC Santa Barbara at the UCSB tennis courts on February 3 at 4 p.m. CT. Fans can follow action on the official K-State women's tennis Twitter account @KStateTEN.
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
K-State Tennis Practice highlights
Tuesday, September 02
Sana Garakani Senior Day Video
Thursday, April 24
K-State Tennis | Senior Thank Yous - Veronika Kulhava
Monday, April 21
Veronika Kulhuva Senior Video
Friday, April 18