K-State Begins Six-Match Homestand with SMU Friday

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Fresh off a split of matches against DePaul and Iowa, the Kansas State women's tennis team begins a six-match homestand on Friday morning, as the Wildcats take on SMU (8-3) at 11 a.m., CT at the Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.

"We always have a good match against SMU," said Head Coach Jordan Smith. "They have new coaches this year, so they will be more fired up compared to previous meetings. It is still a match where if we come out swinging more free than we have recently, then I like our chances in every spot. It's great to be playing at home for a while. Having this many matches in a row at home should help us be more comfortable and thrive off good energy."

K-State (6-4) has made a home as of late in the ITA National Poll with the team climbing all the way up to No. 38 in the country after the two-match road trip to Iowa last weekend. This is the Wildcats' highest ranking since 2019 when the team was ranked No. 36 in the national polls back on March 22.

Recapping last weekend's trip to Iowa City, Iowa, the Wildcats dominated the courts on the first day of the trip with DePaul, clinching the fourth point early in the match and coming away with the victory at 4-1. Facing off with the hometown team in Iowa on Sunday, both teams battled back and forth in singles play before Iowa came away with a decisive third set tiebreaker in the last match, downing the Wildcats at 4-3.

Despite the even split on the road, the top of the lineup remains strong for K-State, as the junior trio of Maria Linares, Anna Turco and Margot Decker all have posted winning marks in the No. 1-3 positions during the 2020 season in singles competition.

Sophomore Karine-Marion Job has continued to impress out of the No. 4 and 5 spots, earning wins against the Blue Demons and the Hawkeyes. Job has now scored four wins in singles play on the year.

Through 10 matches in 2020, the Wildcats have tallied 30 singles victories in the lineup.

The Mustangs have become an annual opponent for K-State in the regular season, dating back to 2016. In the last four matchups with SMU, the Wildcats have recorded a 3-1 mark, which includes a 4-3 victory at home against the No. 39 Mustangs last season. The Mustangs, who are on a two-match road trip, travel to Wichita, Kansas on Thursday for a match with conference foe Wichita State before coming to Manhattan on Friday.

SMU has charged ahead in non-conference play thanks in part to the quartet of Claudia Bartolome, Nicole Petchey, Isabella Tcherkes Zade and Jackie Nylander in singles play. All four players have played heavy roles in the Mustangs' success, combining for 21 singles wins in the No. 1-5 positions.

Live stats will be made available for fans and spectators during Friday's match with the Mustangs, which can be found here.

The Wildcats continue their homestand as the team competes against its third Big Ten opponent of the year in Nebraska on Wednesday, March 4 at 12:30 p.m., CT.

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

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Players Mentioned

Margot Decker

Karine-Marion Job

Maria Linares

Anna Turco

Kansas State University Athletics