K-State to Travel to Kansas, Host DePaul in Back-to-Back Matches

MANHATTAN, Kan. – After dropping its first two conference matches, the No. 46 Kansas State women's tennis team will look to rebound against in-state rival No. 45 Kansas on Sunday, March 21 in Lawrence, Kansas before a quick turnaround to face DePaul on Monday, March 22 in the team's second home stint of the spring campaign.

Sunday's showdown with the Jayhawks is labeled as a non-conference match and will start at 2 p.m., CT at the Jayhawk Tennis Center. The home match with the Blue Demons will begin at 2 p.m., CT at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium or Body First Tennis Center, depending on Monday's weather forecast. Monday's home match with DePaul will permit a limited number of fans and spectators at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium, as no fans will be allowed inside Body First Tennis Center.

After falling on the road at No. 30 Texas Tech and No. 41 TCU, K-State (4-4) will look to pick things up against Kansas in Lawrence, as the Wildcats have recorded a perfect 4-0 mark in the state of Kansas in 2021. This mark includes a 4-0 stretch at Body First Tennis Center, in which the 'Cats defeated four-quality opponents in February.

Doubles' competition has played a significant factor in the team's chances, as the Wildcats have won each of their four matches this season when one doubles' pairing comes away with a set victory in either spot of the lineup.

Contributing from the No. 3 spot in doubles play has been the duo of senior Lilla Barzo and freshman Manami Ukita, who have put together an unblemished 4-0 mark when paired together in dual matches.

Over the course of eight matches, the Wildcats have collected an even mark at 20-20 in the singles lineup. Barzo holds the best mark at 4-2 – primarily from the No. 5 position – with Ukita (3-3), junior Anna Turco (3-3) and sophomore Rosanna Maffei (2-2) filling in just behind with .500 records.

Fresh off the bench in the No. 6 position against the Horned Frogs last Sunday, sophomore Ioana Gheorghita notched her first win in dual-match play since April 7, 2019, conquering TCU's Addy Guevara in two sets, 6-3, 6-4.

The Jayhawks sit even with a 5-5 mark, featuring victories over Iowa State, Arizona, and Wichita State. Slotted at No. 45 in the nation, Kansas has owned the head-to-head matchup against K-State of late, taking the last five matches. Kansas is led by Sonia Smagina, who ranks No. 81 in the ITA National Top 125 Singles poll.

The Blue Demons (7-1) have rallied since a 7-0 loss to Notre Dame on February 4, collecting five-straight wins. Leading DePaul at the top of the lineup is Aspasia Avgeri, who has posted a 6-2 record from the No. 2 position and is currently riding a five-match win streak.

After Monday's match with the Blue Demons, K-State will find itself on the road for the third time this season, traveling up to Ames, Iowa for a conference showdown with Iowa State on Friday, March 26. The match with the Cyclones will begin a stretch of three matches on the road for K-State.

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

K-State to Travel to Kansas, Host DePaul in Back-to-Back Matches

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Players Mentioned

Ioana Gheorghita

Rosanna Maffei

Anna Turco

Manami Ukita

Kansas State University Athletics