Wildcats Finish Strong on Final Day at Big 12/Pac-12 Dual

Monday, January 11

Kansas State University

Big 12/Pac-12 Dual

Wildcats Finish Strong on Final Day at Big 12/Pac-12 Dual

Jan 13, 2021 | Tennis

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Kansas State women's tennis team finished the Big 12/Pac-12 Dual on a high note with five Wildcats scoring victories in singles play inside the Arlington Tennis Center on Wednesday (January 13) afternoon.

"We competed well against Utah today," stated head coach Jordan Smith. "It's never easy to bring out your best three days in a row. However, some of our ladies played their best tennis today for the week. Utah wanted to win badly, so I am proud of our ladies for digging out five wins in singles."

Those five wins can be attributed to the performances of juniors Maria Linares, Karine-Marion Job and Anna Turco, as all three players jump started K-State in singles' competition.

Linares, who arrived at the Arlington Tennis Center on a cold streak, dug deep to clinch the third set in a thrilling tie breaker from the Utes' Madeline Lamoreaux after trailing for most of the match, and secured the win at 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3).

It was a different story for Turco and Job against the Utes, as both Wildcats blanked Utah in two sets. Job bounced back to defeat the Utes' Jasmine Rich with a 6-0, 6-2 victory while Turco fended off Utah's Anya Lamoreaux with a score line of 6-2, 6-4.

Another upperclassman made her mark for the third-consecutive outing, as senior Lilla Barzo completed her stay down in Arlington, Texas, with an unblemished 3-0 record in singles play. Her two-set victory over Utah's Anastasia Goncharova moved the Szeged, Hungary, native to 6-4 in her career and 5-1 for the 2020-21 season.

Freshman Manami Ukita nearly blanked Madison McKay of Utah in her two-set win, 6-0, 6-1. Ukita continues to lead the team in singles' competition for 2020-21, as the Saitama, Japan, product holds an 11-3 record.

The Wildcats got a boost in doubles play from Ukita and teammate Ioana Gheorghita, who downed the No. 49 pairing in the country with a 6-4 victory over Kansas' Carmen Roxana Manu and Malkia Ngounoue. Ukita and Gheorghita recorded a perfect 3-0 mark together in Arlington this week.

"I'm so pumped for Ioana and Manami," said Smith. "Best doubles of the week. Just dominated and owned it from start to finish. They beat a strong KU team in their third outing together."

Over the three-day stretch, K-State recorded 14 singles' victories against Kansas, Utah, and Texas Tech opponents. Those 14 wins are now a season high and usurp the 13 wins obtained back at the K-State Fall Invite (Oct. 30-Nov. 1).

With the commencement of the Big 12/Pac-12 Dual, K-State will look ahead to another match against Texas Tech on Thursday, January 21, at a neutral location in Norman, Oklahoma. Next week's showdown with the Red Raiders will kick off dual-match play for the Wildcats.

"We know that Tech is good, and it was a battle for us on Monday," stated Smith. "It's a lot different gearing up for just one match rather than playing a three-day event. I think we'll be primed to put ourselves in a great position next week."

Big 12/Pac-12 Dual
Arlington Tennis Center
January 13, 2021

Doubles Play (vs. Kansas)
Manami Ukita/Ioana Gheorghita (KSU) def. No. 49 Malkia Ngounoue/Carmen Roxana Manu (KU), 6-4
Sonia Smagina/Vasiliki Karvouni (KU) def. Anna Turco/Lilla Barzo (KSU), 6-4

Singles Play (vs. Utah)
Maria Linares (KSU) def. Madeline Lamoreaux (Utah), 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3)
Lilla Barzo (KSU) def. Anastasia Goncharova (Utah), 6-4, 6-1
Karine-Marion Job (KSU) def. Jasmine Rich (Utah), 6-0, 6-2
Lindsay Hung (Utah) def. Ioana Gheorghita (KSU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Emily Dush (Utah) def. Margot Decker (KSU), 7-5, 6-7 (5), 3-0 (retired)
Anna Turco (KSU) def. Anya Lamoreaux (Utah), 6-2, 6-4
Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Madison McKay (Utah), 6-0, 6-1

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