Jayhawks Scoot Past K-State, 4-1, in Sunflower Showdown

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The No. 46 Kansas State women's tennis team could not generate any momentum against No. 45 Kansas, dropping a 4-1 decision to its in-state rival in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Sunday (March 21) afternoon at the Jayhawk Tennis Center.

K-State (4-5) was unable to generate momentum in the early stages of Sunday's match, as Kansas (6-6) captured the doubles point then won the first two singles' matches for a 3-0 lead.

The Jayhawks grabbed an early 1-0 lead by winning at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles by identical 6-1 scores.

There was a switch at the No. 1 doubles' spot for K-State, which featured sophomore Karine-Marion Job and senior Margot Decker paired together for the first time, but both players tailed off in a 6-1 set loss to Kansas' Vasiliki Karvouni and Sonia Smagina. The loss followed a similar result at the No. 3 position, as Carmen Roxana Manu and Tiffany Lagarde defeated the Wildcats' duo of Lilla Barzo and Ioana Gheorghita, 6-1.

One Wildcat that was able to get back on track in singles play in Sunday's matinee was junior Maria Linares, as the Maracay, Venezuela, native posted her first win since February 19, taking down Kansas' Malkia Ngounoue, 6-4, 6-3, on court two.

Before Linares' strong showing on court two, K-State gave away two quick points to the Jayhawks from the No. 3 and 4 positions, with Decker and sophomore Rosanna Maffei being ousted in two sets each. Manu defeated Maffei, 6-4, 6-0 at the No. 3 spot, while Karvouni knocked off Decker, 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 4 position.

Hoping to keep her winning streak alive from the No. 6 position, Gheorghita could not stave off Kansas' Julia Deming, who claimed the final point of the match for the Jayhawks in two sets, 6-4, 6-3.

Job and freshman Manami Ukita were the last two standing in the Sunflower Showdown, as both players left the Jayhawk Tennis Center with unfinished marks on courts one and five.

The Jayhawks have now won six-straight matches against the Wildcats.

K-State will now turn its focus towards a home matchup with DePaul (7-1) on Monday at 2 p.m., CT, which will be played at either the Mike Goss Tennis Stadium or Body First Tennis Center depending on the weather. The Wildcats own a 4-0 mark at home this season.

No. 46 K-State at No. 45 Kansas
March 21, 2021
Jayhawk Tennis Center

Doubles Play
Order of Finish: 3, 1
No. 1. Sonia Smagina/Vasiliki Karvouni (KAN) def. Margot Decker/Karine-Marion Job (KSU) 6-1
No. 2. Maria Linares/Manami Ukita (KSU) vs. Malkia Ngounoue/Julia Deming (KAN) no result
No. 3. Carmen Roxana Manu/Tiffany Lagarde (KAN) def. Lilla Barzo/Ioana Gheorghita (KSU) 6-1

Singles Play:
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 2, 6
No. 1. Karine-Marion Job (KSU) vs. Sonia Smagina (KAN) no result
No. 2. Maria Linares (KSU) def. Malkia Ngounoue (KAN) 6-4, 6-3
No. 3. Carmen Roxana Manu (KAN) def. Rosanna Maffei (KSU) 6-4, 6-0
No. 4. Vasiliki Karvouni (KAN) def. Margot Decker (KSU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 5. Manami Ukita (KSU) vs. Tiffany Lagarde (KAN) no result
No. 6. Julia Deming (KAN) def. Ioana Gheorghita (KSU) 6-4, 6-3

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

Jayhawks Scoot Past K-State, 4-1, in Sunflower Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Margot Decker

Ioana Gheorghita

Karine-Marion Job

Maria Linares

Rosanna Maffei

Manami Ukita

Players Mentioned

Margot Decker

Ioana Gheorghita

Karine-Marion Job

Maria Linares

Rosanna Maffei

Manami Ukita

Kansas State University Athletics