Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, April 3
Manhattan, Kan.
1:00 PM
Kansas State University
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Kansas
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics
K-State Clinches First Sunflower Showdown Since 2014 in Dramatic Fashion
Apr 03, 2021 | Tennis
MANHATTAN, Kan. – It had been eight years since the Kansas State women's tennis team defeated in-state rival Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown, and it took a special effort from sophomore Ioana Gheorghita to help clinch the match, 4-3, on Saturday (April 3) afternoon at the Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.
In a back-and-forth affair, three different tiebreakers took place over the course of the match, leading to the final stamp from Gheorghita over Kansas' Tiffany Lagarde, 7-5, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, on court five. K-State (7-7, 2-3 Big 12) had been in this position before, but today's come-from-behind win over the Jayhawks (7-8, 1-3 Big 12) showed the Wildcats can defeat anyone at home.
"It has been since 2014 since we had beaten this team," said head coach Jordan Smith. "Ioana (Gheorghita) in the spotlight, she has been on fire all year. I give her a hell of a lot of credit. She lost at KU a couple of weeks ago and came back and won it for us.
"This win gives us a whole lot of confidence. We showed that we were the hardest workers today. We have gone through this so many times where we have come up short. We have to be ready to go out there and put that aside and be tough, and that helped today."
Gheorghita took an early lead in her matchup against Lagarde, snatching the first set at 7-5, only to give away the second set with tiebreaking score of 6-7 (1-7). The third set was where the Ploiesti, Romania, native executed, perhaps, the biggest swings of her college career. Both Lagarde and Gheorghita battled one another in the final set, but Gheorghita found some daylight near the end, taking two straight games to finish off the Jayhawks, 6-4.
It was a moment Gheorghita will never forget.
"I'm so excited and tired at the same time," said Gheorghita. "I will probably realize what happened later. The main thing that was going through my head was, 'next point, next point.' I would try to stay positive through the match. That was the best feeling in college tennis ever."
Smith also had his input on Gheorghita's resilience.
"(She) was meant for this," said Smith. "This was her opportunity to showcase herself and get this done. Any kind of doubts could've crept in her head. We said, 'This girl is tired, you can go out there and take it from her, and she did it.' She went out there and won that match."
That crunch-time outing from Gheorghita would never have been possible without the victories from sophomore Karine-Marion Job, and juniors Maria Linares and Anna Turco in singles play. All three players dispatched their opponents in two sets each to help K-State claw its way back into the match.
Job got the rally started for the Wildcats at the top of the lineup, as the Lyon, France, product defeated Kansas' Sonia Smagina for the first time in a dual-match scenario with a 6-0, 6-4 win.
"It helped a whole lot that KJ (Karine-Marion Job) came out on fire and got her first win ever against Smagina from KU," said Smith.
In the No. 6 position, Turco recorded the second point of the match, powering past the Jayhawks' Julia Deming in two sets, 6-3, 6-1. The victory improved Turco's record to 4-1 at the No. 6 spot on the season.
"Anna (Turco) came out on fire, got us back up 2-1," said Smith.
Battling with an ITA-ranked opponent on court two, Linares ended up getting the upper hand against No. 102 Kansas' Malkia Ngounoue, and secured her second victory against the Jayhawks' ace in 2021 in straight sets, 6-4,
7-6 (7).
"Maria (Linares) was tough down the stretch," said Smith. "She has beaten that girl twice in two weeks. Credit to Maria, who is going through everything and still pulled it out."
Even though they dropped the doubles' point, the Wildcats found some bright spots before heading into intermission from the early deficit. Turco and teammate Margot Decker found their chemistry from over a year ago to lock up a set win on court three over Kansas' Tiffany Lagarde and Carmen Roxana Manu, 6-2.
"Margot (Decker) and Anna (Turco) killed it in doubles," Smith stated.
The pairing of senior Lilla Barzo and Manami Ukita lost their perfect streak in doubles' competition in their showdown with the Jayhawks' Malkia Ngounoue and Julia Deming, falling on court two, 1-6. The loss dropped the pairing of Barzo and Ukita to 7-1 on the year.
Kansas was able to earn the first point of the Sunflower Showdown with the help of Sonia Smagina and Vasiliki Karvouni, who defeated Linares and Job in the No. 1 spot with a set tiebreaker of 7-6 (7).
Remaining unbeaten at home, K-State will put its unblemished home record on the line next week with two pivotal matchups against No. 9 Baylor (17-3, 4-1 Big 12) on Friday, April 9 at 3 p.m., CT and then again on Sunday, April 11 at 11 a.m., CT against No. 2 Texas (18-1, 5-0 Big 12).
"We are undefeated at home," said Gheorghtia. "I think this will pump up the team for the rest of the season. The coaches said this is our opportunity. If we are at home, we just have to work hard, and that's what we did (today)."
K-State vs. No. 44 Kansas
April 3, 2021
Mike Goss Tennis Stadium
Doubles Play
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
1. Sonia Smagina/Vasiliki Karvouni (KAN) def. Karine-Marion Job/Maria Linares (KSU) 7-6 (7-4)
2. Malkia Ngounoue/Julia Deming (KAN) def. Lilla Barzo/Manami Ukita (KSU) 6-1
3. Margot Decker/Anna Turco (KSU) def. Tiffany Lagarde/Carmen Roxana Manu (KAN) 6-2
Singles Play:
Order of Finish: 1, 6, 3, 4, 2, 5
1. Karine-Marion Job (KSU) def. Sonia Smagina (KAN) 6-0, 6-4
2. Maria Linares (KSU) def. #102 Malkia Ngounoue (KAN) 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
3. Carmen Roxana Manu (KAN) def. Manami Ukita (KSU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Vasiliki Karvouni (KAN) def. Lilla Barzo (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Ioana Gheorghita (KSU) def. Tiffany Lagarde (KAN) 7-5, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4
6. Anna Turco (KSU) def. Julia Deming (KAN) 6-3, 6-1
For the latest on K-State tennis follow @kstatesports and @KStateTEN on Twitter or K-State Women's Tennis on Facebook.
In a back-and-forth affair, three different tiebreakers took place over the course of the match, leading to the final stamp from Gheorghita over Kansas' Tiffany Lagarde, 7-5, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, on court five. K-State (7-7, 2-3 Big 12) had been in this position before, but today's come-from-behind win over the Jayhawks (7-8, 1-3 Big 12) showed the Wildcats can defeat anyone at home.
"It has been since 2014 since we had beaten this team," said head coach Jordan Smith. "Ioana (Gheorghita) in the spotlight, she has been on fire all year. I give her a hell of a lot of credit. She lost at KU a couple of weeks ago and came back and won it for us.
"This win gives us a whole lot of confidence. We showed that we were the hardest workers today. We have gone through this so many times where we have come up short. We have to be ready to go out there and put that aside and be tough, and that helped today."
Gheorghita took an early lead in her matchup against Lagarde, snatching the first set at 7-5, only to give away the second set with tiebreaking score of 6-7 (1-7). The third set was where the Ploiesti, Romania, native executed, perhaps, the biggest swings of her college career. Both Lagarde and Gheorghita battled one another in the final set, but Gheorghita found some daylight near the end, taking two straight games to finish off the Jayhawks, 6-4.
It was a moment Gheorghita will never forget.
"I'm so excited and tired at the same time," said Gheorghita. "I will probably realize what happened later. The main thing that was going through my head was, 'next point, next point.' I would try to stay positive through the match. That was the best feeling in college tennis ever."
Smith also had his input on Gheorghita's resilience.
"(She) was meant for this," said Smith. "This was her opportunity to showcase herself and get this done. Any kind of doubts could've crept in her head. We said, 'This girl is tired, you can go out there and take it from her, and she did it.' She went out there and won that match."
That crunch-time outing from Gheorghita would never have been possible without the victories from sophomore Karine-Marion Job, and juniors Maria Linares and Anna Turco in singles play. All three players dispatched their opponents in two sets each to help K-State claw its way back into the match.
Job got the rally started for the Wildcats at the top of the lineup, as the Lyon, France, product defeated Kansas' Sonia Smagina for the first time in a dual-match scenario with a 6-0, 6-4 win.
"It helped a whole lot that KJ (Karine-Marion Job) came out on fire and got her first win ever against Smagina from KU," said Smith.
In the No. 6 position, Turco recorded the second point of the match, powering past the Jayhawks' Julia Deming in two sets, 6-3, 6-1. The victory improved Turco's record to 4-1 at the No. 6 spot on the season.
"Anna (Turco) came out on fire, got us back up 2-1," said Smith.
Battling with an ITA-ranked opponent on court two, Linares ended up getting the upper hand against No. 102 Kansas' Malkia Ngounoue, and secured her second victory against the Jayhawks' ace in 2021 in straight sets, 6-4,
7-6 (7).
"Maria (Linares) was tough down the stretch," said Smith. "She has beaten that girl twice in two weeks. Credit to Maria, who is going through everything and still pulled it out."
Even though they dropped the doubles' point, the Wildcats found some bright spots before heading into intermission from the early deficit. Turco and teammate Margot Decker found their chemistry from over a year ago to lock up a set win on court three over Kansas' Tiffany Lagarde and Carmen Roxana Manu, 6-2.
"Margot (Decker) and Anna (Turco) killed it in doubles," Smith stated.
The pairing of senior Lilla Barzo and Manami Ukita lost their perfect streak in doubles' competition in their showdown with the Jayhawks' Malkia Ngounoue and Julia Deming, falling on court two, 1-6. The loss dropped the pairing of Barzo and Ukita to 7-1 on the year.
Kansas was able to earn the first point of the Sunflower Showdown with the help of Sonia Smagina and Vasiliki Karvouni, who defeated Linares and Job in the No. 1 spot with a set tiebreaker of 7-6 (7).
Remaining unbeaten at home, K-State will put its unblemished home record on the line next week with two pivotal matchups against No. 9 Baylor (17-3, 4-1 Big 12) on Friday, April 9 at 3 p.m., CT and then again on Sunday, April 11 at 11 a.m., CT against No. 2 Texas (18-1, 5-0 Big 12).
"We are undefeated at home," said Gheorghtia. "I think this will pump up the team for the rest of the season. The coaches said this is our opportunity. If we are at home, we just have to work hard, and that's what we did (today)."
K-State vs. No. 44 Kansas
April 3, 2021
Mike Goss Tennis Stadium
Doubles Play
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
1. Sonia Smagina/Vasiliki Karvouni (KAN) def. Karine-Marion Job/Maria Linares (KSU) 7-6 (7-4)
2. Malkia Ngounoue/Julia Deming (KAN) def. Lilla Barzo/Manami Ukita (KSU) 6-1
3. Margot Decker/Anna Turco (KSU) def. Tiffany Lagarde/Carmen Roxana Manu (KAN) 6-2
Singles Play:
Order of Finish: 1, 6, 3, 4, 2, 5
1. Karine-Marion Job (KSU) def. Sonia Smagina (KAN) 6-0, 6-4
2. Maria Linares (KSU) def. #102 Malkia Ngounoue (KAN) 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
3. Carmen Roxana Manu (KAN) def. Manami Ukita (KSU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Vasiliki Karvouni (KAN) def. Lilla Barzo (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Ioana Gheorghita (KSU) def. Tiffany Lagarde (KAN) 7-5, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4
6. Anna Turco (KSU) def. Julia Deming (KAN) 6-3, 6-1
For the latest on K-State tennis follow @kstatesports and @KStateTEN on Twitter or K-State Women's Tennis on Facebook.
CATS WIN! CATS WIN!#KStateTEN pic.twitter.com/5BEKBQlhfP
— K-State Tennis (@KStateTEN) April 3, 2021
This is how you celebrate a big win 🥧😂#KStateTEN x Family pic.twitter.com/cH5srsDZSQ
— K-State Tennis (@KStateTEN) April 3, 2021
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