Cats Run Win Streak to Four after a Saturday Sweep

Saturday, February 23

Manhattan

12 p.m.

Kansas State University

Cincinnati

Feb 23, 2019 | Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery Box Score (.pdf)Match Highlights

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State extended its winning streak to four matches after winning over the Cincinnati Bearcats, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon at Body First Indoor Tennis Center.

"It was good to come out of this week at 2-0," head coach Jordan Smith said. "I thought we did a better job in doubles, just by taking a little bit more control. Cincinnati brought a lot of energy and they fought very hard. I wouldn't say it was our best day, tennis wise, but the fact that we never gave up, we never went away, that was what made today so special with this win. We probably weren't playing our best, but we found a way to persevere."

The day was originally scheduled to be a doubleheader with the UMKC Kangaroos but, due to inclement weather, the match was postponed, and a makeup date has yet to be set.

"Obviously we planned to play two matches today," Smith said. "That's the mindset we wanted to have, once we got past Cincinnati. We are lucky that UMKC is close enough that we can reschedule, just find another day because I think that's a match that we need so that we can continue to keep building our game. That's something we look forward to."

The Wildcats (7-2) swept Cincinnati (5-3) in doubles, which began with sophomores Margot Decker and Anna Turco giving the undefeated duo of Antonella Bramato and Alexia Coutino their first loss of the season, with a mark of 6-1. Freshman Karine-Marion Job and junior Ines Mesquita sealed the point after their win over Ioana Guna and Anna Philp, 6-3.

Ioana Gheorghita and Maria Ponomareva went unfinished against Caroline Morton and Emma Miceli but were tied up 5-5 before it was called.

Job picked up the first singles win of the day after she defeated Coutino, 6-1, 6-0. Decker won a tightly contested match over Guna, 7-6, 6-3. Sophomore Maria Linares spilt the first two sets against Cincinnati's Morton, 7-5, 4-6, then Linares won in the third set, 6-3, getting the Wildcats' fourth point.

Mesquita went up against undefeated Maria Santilli, then went unfinished after completing the first set, 6-4. Turco competed against Emma Miceli and was down 4-5, before going unfinished.

After today's matchup, K-State is 28-16 in singles and 12-11 in doubles. Job leads the team in singles with a record of 7-1, Decker and Turco lead doubles with a record of 5-4.

The Wildcats will resume action at home on Thursday, where they will host Washington State at 12 p.m. at Body First Indoor Tennis Center.