SE: No. 42 K-State Tennis Confident Heading into Big 12 Championship
Apr 27, 2018 | Tennis, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Finishing the regular season with four straight losses to ranked opponents did not do anything to dent the confidence within the No. 42 K-State women's tennis team.
The Wildcats (14-9), who take on No. 14 Texas Tech in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship on Friday in Austin, Texas, faced a gauntlet finish to the regular season. Various "hurdles," head coach Danielle Steinberg said, kept her team from coming out on top against then-No. 34 Wichita State, No. 17 Kansas, No. 50 Oklahoma and No. 11 Oklahoma State.
Confidence was not one of them.
"We believe we can beat any team we take on. We've proven that in other Big 12 matches," she said, as her team enters the Big 12 Championship tied for the third-most wins in program history. "We've been so close the last few matches, and it's basically been a match here or there. I don't think belief was ever the problem."
All four of K-State's recent losses were 4-1 finals, but they were closer than the score indicates.
K-State was ahead in two unfinished matches against Kansas and in the third set of two matches against Oklahoma. In the regular season finale against Oklahoma State, the Wildcats were in the third set of one unfinished match and up a set in another.
When each match ended, the Wildcats could feel how close they were to notching another ranked win. They were not shaken by the outcome.
"It just made us work harder because we were (right) there but we didn't win, so it just made us work harder every day," sophomore Ines Mesquita said. "I don't think it brought us down. We just tried to do even better."
The common denominator between the final four matches is the Wildcats were not able to win the doubles point, which could have swung any of them their way. The positive: There was noticeable improvement in the doubles department as the regular season came to a close.
Rosanna Maffei and Mesquita have won three straight doubles matches at the No. 3 position. Against Oklahoma, the Wildcats dropped tight battles at the No. 1 doubles spot, 5-7, and No. 2 in a tiebreaker. The following match, K-State's top doubles tandem of Margot Decker and Carolina Costamagna battled with the No. 12-ranked Oklahoma State duo of Vladica Babic and Sofia Blanco to a 4-6 loss.
"I think we improved. We are more confident in doubles," freshman Anna Turco said. "I think these past matches we fought harder, we were almost there to win the point, and that's very important because of course it's hard to win four singles."
"We definitely want the doubles point. It's always so close and the last two matches have been really close. I think because we are so close, we know we're going to get it," added Mesquita. "It's just about attitude and energy, bringing up everybody up and just being there in the right moments and playing better in important points."
Steinberg said she's seen her team grow in understanding what it takes to be a successful doubles team at the Power Five level.
"They've learned how important it is to bring energy to the other courts because doubles is so quick. It's one set and it's about 20, 25 minutes. Unlike singles you don't really have time to get into the match and work through some things with yourself, so really, it's about energy and coming together," said the fourth-year head coach. "Even though we haven't been winning the past few matches in doubles, you do see the improvement of girls learning to start better and have a little more energy for the other teams."
With four freshmen in the lineup, more than half of K-State's squad will be completely new to the Big 12 Championship. All four have heard about the tournament's atmosphere and can't wait to be part of it.
"Everybody has said that it's a great experience with the team, to play a tournament together," Turco said. "I think it'll be a very great experience. We are so excited, and we want to do great for the university and for us."
As K-State enters the Big 12 Championship as the No. 6 seed, its highest position since 2012, Steinberg said she wants her to team to come into it with "no pressure" and just play.
"This is the first time for half of our team, being in a Big 12 tournament," she said. "It is exciting. The atmosphere is great and there's a lot of energy in those tournaments but I'm hoping we can just play free."
Finishing the regular season with four straight losses to ranked opponents did not do anything to dent the confidence within the No. 42 K-State women's tennis team.
The Wildcats (14-9), who take on No. 14 Texas Tech in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship on Friday in Austin, Texas, faced a gauntlet finish to the regular season. Various "hurdles," head coach Danielle Steinberg said, kept her team from coming out on top against then-No. 34 Wichita State, No. 17 Kansas, No. 50 Oklahoma and No. 11 Oklahoma State.
Confidence was not one of them.
"We believe we can beat any team we take on. We've proven that in other Big 12 matches," she said, as her team enters the Big 12 Championship tied for the third-most wins in program history. "We've been so close the last few matches, and it's basically been a match here or there. I don't think belief was ever the problem."
All four of K-State's recent losses were 4-1 finals, but they were closer than the score indicates.
K-State was ahead in two unfinished matches against Kansas and in the third set of two matches against Oklahoma. In the regular season finale against Oklahoma State, the Wildcats were in the third set of one unfinished match and up a set in another.
When each match ended, the Wildcats could feel how close they were to notching another ranked win. They were not shaken by the outcome.
"It just made us work harder because we were (right) there but we didn't win, so it just made us work harder every day," sophomore Ines Mesquita said. "I don't think it brought us down. We just tried to do even better."
The common denominator between the final four matches is the Wildcats were not able to win the doubles point, which could have swung any of them their way. The positive: There was noticeable improvement in the doubles department as the regular season came to a close.
Rosanna Maffei and Mesquita have won three straight doubles matches at the No. 3 position. Against Oklahoma, the Wildcats dropped tight battles at the No. 1 doubles spot, 5-7, and No. 2 in a tiebreaker. The following match, K-State's top doubles tandem of Margot Decker and Carolina Costamagna battled with the No. 12-ranked Oklahoma State duo of Vladica Babic and Sofia Blanco to a 4-6 loss.
"I think we improved. We are more confident in doubles," freshman Anna Turco said. "I think these past matches we fought harder, we were almost there to win the point, and that's very important because of course it's hard to win four singles."
"We definitely want the doubles point. It's always so close and the last two matches have been really close. I think because we are so close, we know we're going to get it," added Mesquita. "It's just about attitude and energy, bringing up everybody up and just being there in the right moments and playing better in important points."
Steinberg said she's seen her team grow in understanding what it takes to be a successful doubles team at the Power Five level.
"They've learned how important it is to bring energy to the other courts because doubles is so quick. It's one set and it's about 20, 25 minutes. Unlike singles you don't really have time to get into the match and work through some things with yourself, so really, it's about energy and coming together," said the fourth-year head coach. "Even though we haven't been winning the past few matches in doubles, you do see the improvement of girls learning to start better and have a little more energy for the other teams."
With four freshmen in the lineup, more than half of K-State's squad will be completely new to the Big 12 Championship. All four have heard about the tournament's atmosphere and can't wait to be part of it.
"Everybody has said that it's a great experience with the team, to play a tournament together," Turco said. "I think it'll be a very great experience. We are so excited, and we want to do great for the university and for us."
As K-State enters the Big 12 Championship as the No. 6 seed, its highest position since 2012, Steinberg said she wants her to team to come into it with "no pressure" and just play.
"This is the first time for half of our team, being in a Big 12 tournament," she said. "It is exciting. The atmosphere is great and there's a lot of energy in those tournaments but I'm hoping we can just play free."
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