SE: Dominance, Drama and a Perfect Weekend for K-State Tennis
Feb 16, 2021 | Tennis, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
Karine-Marion Job isn't a loud person.
She's used to letting her game do most of the talking when she steps on the court. That usually gets the job done for the tennis player almost everyone at K-State knows as KJ.
But at Body First Tennis Center this weekend, Job talked a big game that matched her play, as she won four matches over the weekend in a sweep of Drake and Denver.
"Today, the energy was amazing. It really helps when you're struggling in singles or doubles, it brings more confidence and support," she said. "I'm usually not a loud person, but for the team, I'll do it because I know it helps my teammates."
With snow and single-digit temperatures forcing the Wildcats indoors for their first home matches of the spring season, Job and her teammates played without any fans at Body First.
That meant bringing their own energy throughout the weekend.
The trick was balancing that enthusiasm off the court with a quiet confidence that the Wildcats were better than their 0-2 start to match play this season.
"I think the biggest thing was settling in and playing to our own standard, more than having to change anything," head coach Jordan Smith said. "I knew we were close."
That's been the message for K-State Tennis throughout 2021, even as the Wildcats dropped their first two matches on the road to Arkansas and No. 24 Arizona State.
Getting what Smith called "the monkey off our back" started against Drake on Friday afternoon.
The tandem of Job and Maria Linares, the No. 46 pairing in the country this season, defeated Liza Petushkova and Maria Tatarnikova as K-State swept the Bulldogs in doubles play. That set the tempo for the afternoon, as the Wildcats ran the table to complete a 7-0 win over Drake.
Lilla Barzó, Anna Turco and Manami Ukita sealed the match for Kansas State with dominant two-set victories. For each player, it was their first win of 2021.
"I know how deep this team is and how talented these ladies are. But now it's about that mindset, 'You've got to show it,' and we've got to take advantage of some early leads," Smith said. "I was happy to get the doubles' point [against Drake] and get a clean sweep, but we couldn't be satisfied."
The degree of difficulty would increase on Saturday against Denver, a Summit League powerhouse that has appeared in the NCAA Tournament every year since 2014.
The Pioneers were coming off a win over Kansas in Lawrence on Friday and a 12-4 season in 2020.
"They finished Top 40 last year and they're always an NCAA Tournament team," Smith said. "We knew that we had to step up and start the tempo early. Today, I preached tempo, tempo, tempo."
K-State didn't waste any time on Saturday morning, capturing the doubles point after a comprehensive 6-1 victory by Job and Linares over the No. 36 pairing in the country, Taylor Melville and Hada Chang of the Pioneers.
Job wasn't done defeating ranked opponents.
Playing out of the No. 1 spot for the first time this season, the French international knew she would have an important role to play in securing a clean sweep for K-State over the weekend.
Ukita and Turco did their part, putting the 'Cats up 3-0 before the Pioneers came roaring back to close the gap with a pair of singles' matches remaining on Saturday afternoon.
One of those saw Job face off against the highest-ranked player at Body First last weekend, Melville at No. 117 for Denver, with a chance to deliver the Wildcats the match-winner.
"This is the second time since the Nebraska match [last season] that she has been in a situation where the team needed her to come through," Smith said. "A lot of times early in her career, it was easy for her to get down and go the other way. She stayed consistent, stayed positive and calm, and I am just proud of her."
Down 3-4 in the third set, Job came all the way back and got the break she needed to beat Melville 6-4 and clinch the match for K-State.
"I didn't know she was ranked in singles," Job said. "I'm not used to playing No. 1…It just felt good to be on the same page and keep fighting as a team."
There will be plenty of challenges ahead for K-State, with home matches against Wichita State and Arizona on tap this weekend.
The Shockers boast the No. 23-ranked doubles pair in the nation with Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva and Marta Bellucco, and Arizona will arrive in Manhattan with the second top-100 singles player the Wildcats have faced this season in Arizona's Emily Maxfield, No. 90 in the nation.
The Wildcats had a point to prove on the indoor courts at Body First. Smith is already preparing for what comes next.
"It's about mental endurance," he said. "We're going to be indoors for a while, but we know that we can do it physically, and then always bring the energy."
Karine-Marion Job isn't a loud person.
She's used to letting her game do most of the talking when she steps on the court. That usually gets the job done for the tennis player almost everyone at K-State knows as KJ.
But at Body First Tennis Center this weekend, Job talked a big game that matched her play, as she won four matches over the weekend in a sweep of Drake and Denver.
"Today, the energy was amazing. It really helps when you're struggling in singles or doubles, it brings more confidence and support," she said. "I'm usually not a loud person, but for the team, I'll do it because I know it helps my teammates."
With snow and single-digit temperatures forcing the Wildcats indoors for their first home matches of the spring season, Job and her teammates played without any fans at Body First.
That meant bringing their own energy throughout the weekend.
Brought home the W #KStateTEN pic.twitter.com/V1NnTtbyRT
— K-State Tennis (@KStateTEN) February 13, 2021
The trick was balancing that enthusiasm off the court with a quiet confidence that the Wildcats were better than their 0-2 start to match play this season.
"I think the biggest thing was settling in and playing to our own standard, more than having to change anything," head coach Jordan Smith said. "I knew we were close."
That's been the message for K-State Tennis throughout 2021, even as the Wildcats dropped their first two matches on the road to Arkansas and No. 24 Arizona State.
Getting what Smith called "the monkey off our back" started against Drake on Friday afternoon.
The tandem of Job and Maria Linares, the No. 46 pairing in the country this season, defeated Liza Petushkova and Maria Tatarnikova as K-State swept the Bulldogs in doubles play. That set the tempo for the afternoon, as the Wildcats ran the table to complete a 7-0 win over Drake.
Lilla Barzó, Anna Turco and Manami Ukita sealed the match for Kansas State with dominant two-set victories. For each player, it was their first win of 2021.
"I know how deep this team is and how talented these ladies are. But now it's about that mindset, 'You've got to show it,' and we've got to take advantage of some early leads," Smith said. "I was happy to get the doubles' point [against Drake] and get a clean sweep, but we couldn't be satisfied."
The degree of difficulty would increase on Saturday against Denver, a Summit League powerhouse that has appeared in the NCAA Tournament every year since 2014.
The Pioneers were coming off a win over Kansas in Lawrence on Friday and a 12-4 season in 2020.
"They finished Top 40 last year and they're always an NCAA Tournament team," Smith said. "We knew that we had to step up and start the tempo early. Today, I preached tempo, tempo, tempo."
K-State didn't waste any time on Saturday morning, capturing the doubles point after a comprehensive 6-1 victory by Job and Linares over the No. 36 pairing in the country, Taylor Melville and Hada Chang of the Pioneers.
Job wasn't done defeating ranked opponents.
🎾 Winning Wildcat Weekends 🎾#KStateTEN x Family pic.twitter.com/TTGuBdFVEH
— K-State Tennis (@KStateTEN) February 14, 2021
Playing out of the No. 1 spot for the first time this season, the French international knew she would have an important role to play in securing a clean sweep for K-State over the weekend.
Ukita and Turco did their part, putting the 'Cats up 3-0 before the Pioneers came roaring back to close the gap with a pair of singles' matches remaining on Saturday afternoon.
One of those saw Job face off against the highest-ranked player at Body First last weekend, Melville at No. 117 for Denver, with a chance to deliver the Wildcats the match-winner.
"This is the second time since the Nebraska match [last season] that she has been in a situation where the team needed her to come through," Smith said. "A lot of times early in her career, it was easy for her to get down and go the other way. She stayed consistent, stayed positive and calm, and I am just proud of her."
Down 3-4 in the third set, Job came all the way back and got the break she needed to beat Melville 6-4 and clinch the match for K-State.
"I didn't know she was ranked in singles," Job said. "I'm not used to playing No. 1…It just felt good to be on the same page and keep fighting as a team."
There will be plenty of challenges ahead for K-State, with home matches against Wichita State and Arizona on tap this weekend.
The Shockers boast the No. 23-ranked doubles pair in the nation with Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva and Marta Bellucco, and Arizona will arrive in Manhattan with the second top-100 singles player the Wildcats have faced this season in Arizona's Emily Maxfield, No. 90 in the nation.
The Wildcats had a point to prove on the indoor courts at Body First. Smith is already preparing for what comes next.
"It's about mental endurance," he said. "We're going to be indoors for a while, but we know that we can do it physically, and then always bring the energy."
Players Mentioned
K-State Rowing | Media Day
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Rowing | Weights Practice
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Tennis | Weekend Recap vs Old Dominion & Minnesota
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Track and Field | Sights & Sounds Steve Miller Invitational
Monday, February 23
