K-State Records Seven Wins in Singles Play at ITA Central Regionals

NORMAN, Okla. – The Kansas State women's tennis team recorded seven wins in singles play while obtaining another victory in doubles competition on day two at the ITA Central Regional Championship located at the Headington Family Tennis Center.

"The team had a great start to the tournament," said Head Coach Jordan Smith. "We battled through two tough doubles matches this morning. We split them but I was pleased with how we kept making adjustments and competed hard. I'm proud of our showing in singles today. Being able to finish the day winning seven singles matches shows that we're doing the right things in our training. Tomorrow will be another great opportunity for each of our players to build on this momentum."

Looking to start off strong in the main draws for doubles and singles play, juniors Anna Turco and Margot Decker would begin the day for K-State in a doubles' matchup with Alana Bourgeois and Mariluz Rojo of Saint Louis in the Round of 64. Decker and Turco fought off a rally from the Bilikens' pairing and pulled away with an 8-6 set victory to advance to the Round of 32.

Starting off the day with singles victories would be sophomores Ioana Gheorghita, Rosanna Maffei and Karine-Marion Job, who took care of their opponents in the Round of 128 and 64.

Gheorghita, who was the only Wildcat competing in the Round of 132, swiftly knocked off Mika Misgov from Saint Louis in two sets, 6-0, 6-3, before posting a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 victory over Iowa State's Christin Hsieh in the Round of 64.

Job and Maffei both began in the Round of 64 after earning byes for the tournament. Maffei downed Iowa's Ashley Jacobs with scores of 6-4, 6-0, while Job used three sets to defeat Juliet Zhang from Minnesota, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Junior Maria Linares continued her torrid pace in singles play this fall and joined her teammates in the win column, defeating Lian Benedejcic of Tulsa by scores of 6-0, 7-6 (5).

After competing in doubles play in the morning session, Decker and Turco wrapped up the day with wins against opponents from Missouri and Oral Roberts. Decker handled Aliksandra Lebedeva from Oral Roberts with a 6-3, 6-0 score line, while Turco delivered a three-set victory against Serena Nash of Missouri, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4.

Senior Ines Mesquita and Job lost their doubles' match to Missouri's Gabrielle Goldin and Serena Nash, 8-6, while Mesquita lost to Arkansas' Jackie Carr, 6-3, 6-2, in singles' action.

The Wildcats entered the Round of 128 in singles competition with five players seeded in the top 32 for the event (No. 12 Turco, No. 14 Linares, No. 24 Decker, No. 25 Maffei and No. 28 Job), which were the second-most behind Oklahoma State (6).

K-State will continue action at the ITA Central Regional on Saturday with matchups in the Round of 32 in both singles and doubles play.

For the latest on K-State tennis follow @kstatesports and @KStateTEN on Twitter or Kansas State Tennis on Facebook.

K-State Records Seven Wins in Singles Play at ITA Central Regionals

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Margot Decker

Ioana Gheorghita

Karine-Marion Job

Maria Linares

Rosanna Maffei

Ines Mesquita

Anna Turco

Kansas State University Athletics