Cats Win Home Opener vs. North Texas Friday

Friday, February 9

Manhattan, Kan.

3 p.m.

Kansas State University

North Texas

Feb 09, 2018 | Tennis

Box Score (PDF)

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Freshman Margot Decker's three-set victory over the nation's 48^th-ranked player highlighted K-State's 4-1 win over North Texas Friday afternoon at Body First Indoor Tennis Center.

Decker overcame an opening-set loss to pick up a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over UNT's Maria Kononova, her third win over an ITA-ranked opponent (3-2) in her freshman season and first during the spring season. The three-set win was the French product's third such win of her freshman season and first in the dual campaign.

"North Texas is a strong team, we have a lot of respect for them," said head coach Danielle Steinberg after the match. "There was a lot of anticipation for this match, we knew it was going to be a big one for us. I'm very happy with how we started, Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, specifically. Great energy and did exactly what we asked them to do.

"That energy carried on to singles," Steinberg added. "We had a great match at No. 1. Margot playing one of the best players in the country in a top-50 player. The past few matches she struggled to put those matches away, but today she showed composure and was focused and did what she needed to do. We are very proud of her after this match."

K-State (3-1) picked up its third victory in as many seasons over the Mean Green (3-2). The Cats were able to clinch the doubles point for the third time in four matches and picked up victories at the Nos. 1, 3 and 4 singles positions to seal the win.

The Wildcats jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after claiming the doubles point from the Mean Green (3-1). The duo of Maria Linares and Ines Mesquita took the victory at the No. 2 slot, 6-0, while the Cats' No. 1 doubles team of Carolina Costamagna and Decker won its final three games for a 6-3 victory over the previously ranked pairing of Kononova and Tamuna Kutubidze.

On Court 3, the freshmen tandem of Anna Turco and Rosanna Maffei erased a 3-0 deficit and held a 4-3 lead over UNT's Minying Liang and Nidhi Surapaneni when the Wildcats claimed the doubles point.

Linares and Mesquita remained undefeated playing together in the dual season (4-0) while Costamagna and Decker improve to 2-1 at the No. 1 position.

Linares picked up the Wildcats' first singles point with a 6-1, 7-5 triumph over Liang of UNT. The straight-set victory pushes the Venezuelan freshman's spring record to 4-0, all coming in straight sets.

Costamagna, a senior playing at the fourth spot, sealed the match with a 6-3, 6-2 sweep of Sille Tranberg, evening her spring record to 2-2.

Mesquita and Turco, playing at the fifth and sixth positions, respectively, each claimed the opening set of their matches before Costamagna clinched the Cats' win. The match was Turco's first singles match of the dual season.

Maffei, a native of Atripalda, Italy, suffered her first loss of the spring season (3-1), falling at the No. 2 singles position to Kutubidze in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5. Kutubidze remains unbeaten in her dual campaign, moving to 4-0.

The Cats wrap up the weekend on Sunday, February 11 vs. Washington State, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Body First Tennis Center in Manhattan.

"Washington State is another tough match," Steinberg said. "They are very strong this year and we are going to have to battle at every position. I think doubles, again, will be key for us maintaining that energy and aggressiveness and owning that home court."