Cats Complete Comeback vs. Washington State

Sunday, February 11

Manhattan, Kan.

11 a.m.

Kansas State University

Washington State

Feb 11, 2018 | Tennis

Box Score (PDF)Match Highlights

K-State wins final three singles match to claim third straight matc

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State overcame a 3-1 deficit against undefeated Washington State behind singles wins from senior Carolina Costamagna, sophomore Ines Mesquita and freshman Anna Turco to propel the team to a 4-3 victory at Body First Indoor Tennis Center Sunday.

"Down 3-1, hats off to Carolina, Ines and Anna," head coach Danielle Steinberg said after the match. "They believed in themselves and their teammates, and it showed. We played with conviction and with no hesitation. I am extremely proud of the team for today's effort.

"Washington State is a tough team and kudos to them for making us find that extra gear to put this match away," Steinberg added. "We knew that this match could be a defining one in our schedule early on, and I am hoping the team can take this win and make it a signature win that will push us forward and give us the confidence to be the strong team we can be."

The Cats (4-1) move to 3-1 all-time against the Washington State (7-1), picking up its first home victory against the Cougars.

Costamagna nudged the match to 3-2 with her desolation of the Cougars' Aneta Miksovska in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. The Argentinian senior ensured the point by winning five of the last six games.

K-State knotted the match up, 3-3, following Anna Turco's three-set victory over Melisa Ates of Washington State, 0-6, 6-2, 6-3. After being blanked in the first set, the Italian native won seven straight, and 12 of 17, games to secure the point. The freshman picks up her first win of the dual season in singles play.

Mesquita's win over Barbora Michalkova 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 sealed the victory for the Cats. The sophomore won six straight points in the tiebreaker to extend the match to a third set. The Portuguese sophomore moves to 14-3 in singles play this season, with an unblemished record in dual play (4-0).

K-State notched the doubles point, making such a feat for the fourth time in five matches.

At No. 1, freshman Margot Decker and Costamagna defeated the Cougars' Michalkova and Ates, 6-3. The tandem moves to 3-1 this season.

Playing No. 3 doubles, freshmen Rosanna Maffei and Turco won their first match of the dual season as they topped Washington State's Michaela Bayerlova and Miksovska, 6-2.

Freshman Maria Linares and Mesquita dropped their first match of the dual season, falling to Guzal Yusupova and Tiffany Mylonas, 0-6. The tandem, representing at No. 2 doubles position, drops its first match of its dual campaign (4-1).

The Cougars nabbed three straight points in singles, winning at the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 positions, for a commanding 3-1 advantage.

Linares played at the No. 3 spot for the second straight match, falling to the Cougars' Mylonas 6-7 (4), 3-6. The freshman is 10-4 in her collegiate career, including 4-1 in dual match play.

Following an opening-set win, Decker fell in three sets to the country's 54th-ranked player in Bayerlova, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Decker is now 3-3 against ranked opponents this season.

Maffei was defeated in three sets against Washington State's Yusupova, 5-7, 6-4, 2-6. The product of Italy is now 3-2 to begin her dual season play.

K-State hits the road and will take on Colorado in Boulder on Sunday, February 18 at noon CT. Fans can follow live results through the official Twitter page of K-State tennis, @KStateTEN.