SE: K-State Tennis Riding Aggressive Doubles Mindset, Success into Big 12 Play
Mar 13, 2019 | Tennis, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
There's a word the K-State tennis team has heard over and over again, especially in doubles. Lately, the Wildcats have started believing in it, using it, and winning with it.
"The coaches' message is to always be aggressive," freshman Karine-Marion Job said.
No. 33 K-State (10-3), which opens Big 12 play at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State this weekend, has won the doubles point in four out of its last five matches, including three in a row, all team victories. K-State's recent doubles success started with that 10-letter word, which head coach Jordan Smith has emphasized all season.
"We knew we were being a little too passive in all three of our doubles, and we knew we weren't being able to close," Smith said. "It's something we talked about a lot, 'If you go out there and you're in a good position, you know the good teams are going to play a little bit better when they're down and they have nothing to lose. So, how do you finish? How do you want to finish and what's your gameplan?'"
In short, the Wildcats began to trust their games more. They took what they were hearing, that they could put the pressure on their opponents, not the other way around, to the court.
"I think we were scared of missing. We wanted to win without missing. And it doesn't work like that because if you just want to put the ball in, they are going to be aggressive," junior Ines Mesquita said. "If they are aggressive before you, there's no way you can win. You just have to be aggressive in order to win.
"Jordan has told us, 'You need to be more aggressive. You are good doubles teams, so just show them who you are and don't be afraid to go for it.' We just went for it and it works."
It worked especially well in a 7-0 sweep of then-No. 40 Wichita State last week, even if arrived late for some. K-State's No. 2 duo of Job and Mesquita fell behind, 4-1, in their match, which became the decisive battle for the point. Then, they turned it on.
"We tried to be more aggressive," Job said, "and then we won."
Job and Mesquita took five straight games to win the match en route to the team's first victory against the Shockers since 2014. The duo, playing together for less than two months, improved to 6-1 this season.
"She's a very aggressive player," Mesquita said of her partner, "so that helps a lot."
Sophomore Maria Linares and freshman Ioana Gheorghita have also connected rather quickly on the court. Their 6-3 win against Wichita State gave them a 3-0 record together at the No. 3 spot, less than a week after their first match together.
"(The coaches) always say go for it, don't give the other girls any chance," Linares said. "We're trying to be on the offensive, so they have to defend, and we have more opportunities to win."
A year ago, K-State's doubles success hit a wall when Big 12 arrived. The Wildcats won just one doubles point in conference last season, yet still managed to go 4-5 in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
Now, the Wildcats face the challenge of breaking through that wall in their goal to pick up more Big 12 wins. With six other teams ranked in the Oracle/ITA Top-50, including No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 34 Oklahoma this weekend, the doubles point will again be vital.
"We know it's going to be hard to always get four out of six singles matches. We talk about how we want to split it, go 50/50, but in order for us to go 50/50, we're going to need that doubles point," Smith said. "The girls know how well we come out in doubles is going to be the key to our success and, additionally, trying to move forward to make an NCAA Tournament appearance again."
There's a word the K-State tennis team has heard over and over again, especially in doubles. Lately, the Wildcats have started believing in it, using it, and winning with it.
"The coaches' message is to always be aggressive," freshman Karine-Marion Job said.
No. 33 K-State (10-3), which opens Big 12 play at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State this weekend, has won the doubles point in four out of its last five matches, including three in a row, all team victories. K-State's recent doubles success started with that 10-letter word, which head coach Jordan Smith has emphasized all season.
"We knew we were being a little too passive in all three of our doubles, and we knew we weren't being able to close," Smith said. "It's something we talked about a lot, 'If you go out there and you're in a good position, you know the good teams are going to play a little bit better when they're down and they have nothing to lose. So, how do you finish? How do you want to finish and what's your gameplan?'"
In short, the Wildcats began to trust their games more. They took what they were hearing, that they could put the pressure on their opponents, not the other way around, to the court.
"I think we were scared of missing. We wanted to win without missing. And it doesn't work like that because if you just want to put the ball in, they are going to be aggressive," junior Ines Mesquita said. "If they are aggressive before you, there's no way you can win. You just have to be aggressive in order to win.
"Jordan has told us, 'You need to be more aggressive. You are good doubles teams, so just show them who you are and don't be afraid to go for it.' We just went for it and it works."
It worked especially well in a 7-0 sweep of then-No. 40 Wichita State last week, even if arrived late for some. K-State's No. 2 duo of Job and Mesquita fell behind, 4-1, in their match, which became the decisive battle for the point. Then, they turned it on.
"We tried to be more aggressive," Job said, "and then we won."
Job and Mesquita took five straight games to win the match en route to the team's first victory against the Shockers since 2014. The duo, playing together for less than two months, improved to 6-1 this season.
"She's a very aggressive player," Mesquita said of her partner, "so that helps a lot."
Sophomore Maria Linares and freshman Ioana Gheorghita have also connected rather quickly on the court. Their 6-3 win against Wichita State gave them a 3-0 record together at the No. 3 spot, less than a week after their first match together.
"(The coaches) always say go for it, don't give the other girls any chance," Linares said. "We're trying to be on the offensive, so they have to defend, and we have more opportunities to win."
A year ago, K-State's doubles success hit a wall when Big 12 arrived. The Wildcats won just one doubles point in conference last season, yet still managed to go 4-5 in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
Now, the Wildcats face the challenge of breaking through that wall in their goal to pick up more Big 12 wins. With six other teams ranked in the Oracle/ITA Top-50, including No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 34 Oklahoma this weekend, the doubles point will again be vital.
"We know it's going to be hard to always get four out of six singles matches. We talk about how we want to split it, go 50/50, but in order for us to go 50/50, we're going to need that doubles point," Smith said. "The girls know how well we come out in doubles is going to be the key to our success and, additionally, trying to move forward to make an NCAA Tournament appearance again."
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