K-State Collides with No. 44 Kansas in Sunflower Showdown on Saturday

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State women's tennis team begins a five-match homestand this weekend, as the Wildcats take on No. 44 Kansas in the annual Dillions Sunflower Showdown at 1 p.m., CT on Saturday at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, there will be a limited seating at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium with fans being asked to arrive through the east gate off Denison Avenue on Saturday afternoon. In accordance with City of Manhattan ordinances and Kansas State University policy, fans must wear face coverings over their mouths and noses in order to enter Mike Goss Tennis Stadium and continue wearing them inside the stadium.

This will be K-State's first outdoor match at home this season, as the Wildcats have competed in five matches at Body First Tennis Center, compiling an impressive 5-0 stretch in those non-conference contests.

"I'm excited that we get to finish out our conference slate at home," said head coach Jordan Smith. "We got some tough road trips out of the way. We seem to do better at home then playing away. Hopefully, that can continue tomorrow. Our doubles play is way better since the last time we played KU."

Kansas (7-7, 1-2 Big 12) brings an experienced group to Manhattan with four juniors in the lineup and features one player – junior Malkia Ngounoue (No. 102) – who ranks inside the ITA Top 125 National Singles poll.

The Jayhawks have won two of their last three matches, including a 4-1 non-conference victory over the Wildcats at home on March 21. They are 2-6 on the road, including a 6-1 win over West Virginia last weekend.

"We have to start well, and we can't hope KU is going to give us anything," said Smith.

Coming off a three-match road trip, K-State (6-7, 1-3 Big 12) will look to get back on track with the start of its five-match homestand. The Wildcats went 1-2 on their road swing but were competitive in losses to nationally-ranked foes from No. 33 Iowa State (L, 2-4) and No. 49 Tulsa (L, 3-4).

Junior Maria Linares led the charge in Wednesday's narrow loss at Tulsa, knocking off Laia Conde Monfort in two sets, 6-2, 6-3, to set off a three straight wins in singles' play. Sophomores Rosanna Maffei and Ioana Gheorghita delivered three-set performances of their own to bring the score back to even against the Golden Hurricanes, as Maffei downed Shura Poppe with a score line of 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, while Gheorghita kept her hot streak going at the No. 6 position with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, victory over Lian Benedejcic.

Three Wildcats have recorded at least five wins in dual match play this season, with Linares (5-4), freshman Manami Ukita (5-5) and senior Lilla Barzo (5-3) all tacking on victories throughout the singles lineup in 2021.

The doubles tandem of Barzo and Ukita was impressive yet again from the No. 2 spot, as the duo dispatched Tulsa's Shura Poppe and Valeryria Rozenkova with a 6-0 sweep. That victory moved Barzo and Ukita to 7-0 in doubles play for the season, with four of those victories coming from the No. 3 spot and the other three wins accumulating from the No. 2 position.

The Wildcats continue their homestand next week with matches against No. 9 Baylor (17-3, 4-1) on Friday, April 9, and No. 2 Texas (17-1, 5-0) on Sunday, April 11. Both matches will be played at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.

"This match counts for conference standings, so our ladies need to give it their all," Smith stated.

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

K-State Collides with No. 44 Kansas in Sunflower Showdown on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Ioana Gheorghita

Maria Linares

Rosanna Maffei

Manami Ukita

Kansas State University Athletics