K-State Welcomes Drake, Denver to Open 2021 Home Schedule

MANHATTAN, Kan. – With a chance to regain its form at home this weekend, the Kansas State women's tennis team will face off with the Drake Bulldogs on Friday, February 12 at 1 p.m., CT, and then will turn around on Saturday, February 13 to take on the Denver Pioneers at 10 a.m., CT.

Under COVID-19 precautions, no fans or spectators will be allowed inside Body First Tennis Center this weekend.

After starting the season on the road against two powerhouse opponents from the SEC and Pac-12, K-State will get its chance to snag a few crucial wins this weekend, as the team competes at home for the first time since March 4, 2020. The February edition of the non-conference slate for the Wildcats will feature opponents with even records, as Drake (1-1) and Denver (2-2) arrive to Body First Tennis Center with multiple matches under their belts.

Through two matches, K-State (0-2) has come up on the receiving end of tough road losses to Arkansas and Arizona State. Sunday's road battle with the No. 24 Sun Devils saw the Wildcats post their first point of the spring campaign with a three-set victory from junior Maria Linares in a 4-1 loss on February 7.

Linares, a native of Maracay, Venezuela, bounced back in her second match of the season to pull out a 10-6 win in the final set against the Sun Devils' Sammi Hampton, who ranks No. 115 in the ITA National Singles poll.

Taking on two ranked pairings to kick off the spring campaign, the duo of Linares and sophomore Karine-Marion Job have performed admirably against the No. 28 and 50 duos in the country in those two losses. Sunday's matchup with Arizona State's Ilze Hattingh and Lauryn John-Baptiste – who rank No. 50 in the nation - ended with an unfinished set at 3-4.

Even with a tough lineup of doubles pairings that rank in the ITA Top-60 poll, the tandem of Linares and Job still maintain an impressive 11-3 mark for the 2020-21 campaign.

Through the beginning of February, K-State has compiled 52 victories in singles play. Freshman Manami Ukita has paved the way for an experienced K-State group, as the Saitama, Japan, native owns an 11-4 mark in her first season in the purple and white.

Drake is led by senior Liza Petushkova (1-1) at the No. 1 position.

K-State has provided itself a nice cushion in head-to-head battles with Drake over the years, as the Wildcats have registered a 10-4 mark in the all-time series against the Bulldogs.

Denver enters Saturday on a two-match winning streak with consecutive 6-1 victories over Air Force and Utah State after opening the year with losses to No. 17 USC and Wisconsin. The Pioneers are led by senior Anna Riedmiller and junior Toni Nelson, who each have three singles wins through the team's first four matches.

Saturday's match with Denver will feature another ranked duo, as the Pioneers' Hada Chang and Taylor Melville sit at the No. 36 spot in the national rankings. This will be the third time this season the Wildcats will face off with an ITA ranked pairing in doubles play.

K-State will continue its homestand next Friday, February 20 at 1 p.m., CT against in-state rival Wichita State. In last year's bout with the Shockers, the Wildcats put together a 5-2 win down in Wichita, Kansas.

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

K-State Welcomes Drake, Denver to Open 2021 Home Schedule

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Karine-Marion Job

Maria Linares

Manami Ukita

Kansas State University Athletics