Wildcats Face No. 9 Seed Kansas in First Round of Big 12 Championship

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State women's tennis team will rekindle its in-state rivalry with Kansas in the first round of the Big 12 Championships on Thursday, April 22, as the No. 8 seed Wildcats meet the ninth-seeded Jayhawks at 10 a.m., CT at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas.

Thursday's matchup features the rubber match between No. 8 seed K-State (7-11, 2-7 Big 12) and No. 9 seed Kansas (7-12, 1-8 Big 12). The Jayhawks took the first matchup back on March 21 with a 4-1 decision in Lawrence, Kansas, but the Wildcats bounced back on April 3 to earn their first win in the annual Sunflower Showdown since 2014 with a 4-3 comeback performance at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.

K-State has had success in the first round of the conference tournament, compiling a 15-6 record all-time in the round at the Big 12 Championship. Thursday's draw with the Jayhawks will be the first meeting between the schools at the conference championship since 2011. The Wildcats – a No. 7 seed in the 2011 duel – powered past the No. 10 seed Jayhawks, 4-1, in the first round, also in Waco, Texas. The 2011 victory marks the lone win against the Jayhawks at the conference tournament, as Kansas owns a 2-1 edge since the inaugural tournament in 1997.

Experience will play a factor in the Wildcats' opening match with the Jayhawks, and it may prove to be the difference maker for advancing to the next stage of the tournament. Five Wildcats will make their return to the Big 12 Championship on Thursday, which includes senior Margot Decker, juniors Maria Linares and Anna Turco, and sophomores Karine-Marion Job and Ioana Gheorghita.

In 2019, those five players engineered a 4-0 sweep over No. 10 seed West Virginia in Lawrence, Kansas. The tandem of Job and Turco flourished in first round against the Mountaineers, with each player earning wins in singles play. Turco – along with Decker at the No. 1 line in doubles' action – diced up West Virginia's top duo with a 6-2 set win, which jump started the Wildcats' sweep.

The Jayhawks are the reigning Big 12 Tournament Champions, defeating No. 1 Texas in the 2019 finals, 4-2.

K-State has seen significant improvement from the top of the lineup in singles' competition throughout the 2021 campaign, and Job and Linares have backed that up all spring.

A native of Lyon, France, Job has provided a much-needed spark for the Wildcats at the top spot, compiling seven wins at the No. 1 spot. She has earned three wins against ITA-ranked opponents in dual-match play this spring, with the latest victory occurring on April 18 against Oklahoma's Carmen Corley – the No. 73 player in the country. A week earlier, Job handled Baylor's Mel Krywoj in three sets – who ranks No. 65 in the ITA National Singles poll.

The demanding schedule of ranked foes has prepared Job for her likely encounter with Kansas' Sonia Smagina. Smagina has tallied six wins in dual matches at the No. 1 position. Back on April 3, Job got the upper hand over Smagina on court one, recording her first victory over the Jayhawks' ace in her career.

On court two, Linares will need to work her magic to knock off the Jayhawks' Malkia Ngounoue once again – who jumped up the ITA National Singles rankings to the No. 89 spot. Ngounoue has been a catalyst for Kansas at the No. 2 spot, posting a 7-8 mark this year.

In doubles play, the Wildcats have posted a 5-1 record this season when the team has clinched the doubles point. With hopes of taking an early lead in the opening round, K-State will lean on the chemistry of senior Lilla Barzo and freshman Manami Ukita to put the group in a solid place to snag the doubles point from No. 9 seed Kansas. Barzo and Ukita have earned seven victories together in doubles' action, which includes a 4-0 mark on court three.

The winner of Thursday's first-round matchup will next take on No. 1 seed Texas in the quarterfinals on Friday, April 23 at 3 p.m., CT. The second-ranked Longhorns (22-1) swept the conference regular-season schedule with a 9-0 mark, while registering 14 consecutive victories since a February 7 loss to top-ranked North Carolina (23-0).

K-State at the Big 12 Championship:

Highest Seed: No. 5 (twice)
Best Finish: 2000 (Semifinal Round vs. No. 1 Texas (L, 0-5)
This will be the 22nd time the Wildcats will take part in the First Round of the conference tournament.
- 15-6 all-time in the opening round
As a No. 8 seed, K-State owns a 1-1 Record at the Big 12 Championship
In the No. 8-9 matchup, the Wildcats have recorded a 3-2 mark.
Last Meeting vs. Kansas: 2011 (W, 4-1)
The Wildcats have earned a 4-4 record at the conference tournament when Baylor has hosted.

Wildcats Face No. 9 Seed Kansas in First Round of Big 12 Championship

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Players Mentioned

Margot Decker

Ioana Gheorghita

Karine-Marion Job

Maria Linares

Anna Turco

Manami Ukita

Kansas State University Athletics