SE: Job Hits Ground Running for K-State Tennis
Feb 26, 2019 | Tennis, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Karine-Marion Job had every reason not to start her K-State tennis career well.
The France native joined K-State in between semesters, missing out on the fall season and the opportunity get her bearings in the United States. Not the mention the chance to get to know her teammates, coaches and what it means to be on a tennis team, most of which were completely foreign to her.
Even more, Job arrived later than expected because of a visa delay. Her first match in a Wildcat uniform was less than five days after her flight into the country. Still, she won, 6-2, 6-3, in her team's spring opener against South Dakota on January 19.
About a month later, Job's singles record stands at 7-1. It's the best mark of any Wildcat. Last week, she earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
All of it begs the question: Did she even expect this amount of success this early?
"Not this much of it, honestly," the freshman said. "I wasn't expecting something special. I'm just trying to do my best, and apparently it works."
It has also worked at whatever position Job has played in her team's lineup.
So far, she's won at four different places in K-State's lineup, the most by any Wildcat this season. Her most recent win against Cincinnati came at the No. 3 position, the highest spot she's played in. She won 6-1, 6-0, in a match that was before the two others next to her finished one set.
"She doesn't really care where she plays," K-State head coach Jordan Smith said. "That's something you want from a student-athlete, a great teammate who's going to, whether they're playing six, three, whatever, go out there and play the same."
Doubles has been another learning curve Job has picked up quickly. Paired with junior Ines Mesquita the last five matches, the Wildcat duo has won four in a row.
"Basically, I was doing only singles in France," Job said. "At the beginning I wasn't really comfortable in doubles and now, with time and practice, it's better."
All of it fits into what Smith and assistant coach Megan Kurey have learned about Job. Notably, she's adaptable, easygoing and selfless.
"She came in and got along with everyone right away. She was very coachable right away. She was willing to do whatever it takes to get better," Kurey said. "She was very vocal, too, right away, which is pretty cool because normally when you come in, you're shy and timid and afraid to speak out. She was one of the first ones to say, 'Go Cats!' So, it's been really cool to see how easy she has fit in with the team and the program."
At first, Job said everything felt "completely different" on the court. She had never played for a team before, only for herself.
"I felt a little more pressure than when I was playing in France on my own, but now I can say that I've gotten used to it. Now, I feel a lot of support from my teammates," she said. "When you're low and you're down, to hear them cheer, it helps a lot."
Job's lone loss was close (6-7 (6-8) 4-6) and came against now No. 1-ranked Georgia's Elena Christofi, currently ranked 110th individually. Job's wins have been, for the most part, decisive and quick, a product of her lethal serve and strong return game. She has only played three sets once since her Georgia loss and has dropped a combined nine games in her last three matches.
Again, she credited her teammates for her success but in a different way.
"I think my game has become more and more consistent. In France, I wasn't able to play with a lot of different players. I didn't have any teammates, so I was by myself with my coach. But here I can play with all my teammates, and that's really positive," she said. "I can adapt more to different games."
Smith and Kurey pointed back to Job's coachability. She takes what they tell her almost immediately to the court. For instance, they asked her early on to focus on staying positive when she was not playing exactly how she would like. Kurey listed it as one of her biggest areas of growth already.
"She wants to do so well and be, not perfect, but make a lot of shots and do what she needs to do. She gets a little frustrated when that doesn't happen," Kurey said. "I think that's been really cool to see how she has managed the negativity into positivity."
Karine-Marion Job had every reason not to start her K-State tennis career well.
The France native joined K-State in between semesters, missing out on the fall season and the opportunity get her bearings in the United States. Not the mention the chance to get to know her teammates, coaches and what it means to be on a tennis team, most of which were completely foreign to her.
Even more, Job arrived later than expected because of a visa delay. Her first match in a Wildcat uniform was less than five days after her flight into the country. Still, she won, 6-2, 6-3, in her team's spring opener against South Dakota on January 19.
About a month later, Job's singles record stands at 7-1. It's the best mark of any Wildcat. Last week, she earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
All of it begs the question: Did she even expect this amount of success this early?
"Not this much of it, honestly," the freshman said. "I wasn't expecting something special. I'm just trying to do my best, and apparently it works."
It has also worked at whatever position Job has played in her team's lineup.
So far, she's won at four different places in K-State's lineup, the most by any Wildcat this season. Her most recent win against Cincinnati came at the No. 3 position, the highest spot she's played in. She won 6-1, 6-0, in a match that was before the two others next to her finished one set.
"She doesn't really care where she plays," K-State head coach Jordan Smith said. "That's something you want from a student-athlete, a great teammate who's going to, whether they're playing six, three, whatever, go out there and play the same."
Doubles has been another learning curve Job has picked up quickly. Paired with junior Ines Mesquita the last five matches, the Wildcat duo has won four in a row.
"Basically, I was doing only singles in France," Job said. "At the beginning I wasn't really comfortable in doubles and now, with time and practice, it's better."
All of it fits into what Smith and assistant coach Megan Kurey have learned about Job. Notably, she's adaptable, easygoing and selfless.
"She came in and got along with everyone right away. She was very coachable right away. She was willing to do whatever it takes to get better," Kurey said. "She was very vocal, too, right away, which is pretty cool because normally when you come in, you're shy and timid and afraid to speak out. She was one of the first ones to say, 'Go Cats!' So, it's been really cool to see how easy she has fit in with the team and the program."
At first, Job said everything felt "completely different" on the court. She had never played for a team before, only for herself.
"I felt a little more pressure than when I was playing in France on my own, but now I can say that I've gotten used to it. Now, I feel a lot of support from my teammates," she said. "When you're low and you're down, to hear them cheer, it helps a lot."
Job's lone loss was close (6-7 (6-8) 4-6) and came against now No. 1-ranked Georgia's Elena Christofi, currently ranked 110th individually. Job's wins have been, for the most part, decisive and quick, a product of her lethal serve and strong return game. She has only played three sets once since her Georgia loss and has dropped a combined nine games in her last three matches.
Again, she credited her teammates for her success but in a different way.
"I think my game has become more and more consistent. In France, I wasn't able to play with a lot of different players. I didn't have any teammates, so I was by myself with my coach. But here I can play with all my teammates, and that's really positive," she said. "I can adapt more to different games."
Smith and Kurey pointed back to Job's coachability. She takes what they tell her almost immediately to the court. For instance, they asked her early on to focus on staying positive when she was not playing exactly how she would like. Kurey listed it as one of her biggest areas of growth already.
"She wants to do so well and be, not perfect, but make a lot of shots and do what she needs to do. She gets a little frustrated when that doesn't happen," Kurey said. "I think that's been really cool to see how she has managed the negativity into positivity."
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