Gheorghita Named Co-Big 12 Player of the Week
Apr 06, 2021 | Tennis
IRVING, Texas – Sophomore Ioana Gheorghita was named Co-Big 12 Player of the Week after sealing Kansas State's first victory over in-state rival Kansas since 2014, the conference announced today (April 6).
This is Gheorghita's first conference player of the week accolade and it also marks the first time the Wildcats have received a weekly award from the Big 12 since teammate Karine-Marion Job earned the same honor back on February 19, 2019.
In a winner-take-all scenario, Gheorghita helped deliver the Wildcats' first win in the Sunflower Showdown in nearly eight years, as the Ploiesti, Romania, native squeezed out four-straight games in her final set to take down Kansas' Tiffany Largarde, 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-4. Gheorghita now owns a four-match win streak since March 22.
Gheorghita's victory in the No. 5 spot would cap off the come-from-behind win on Saturday afternoon, as K-State had trailed the Jayhawks during several points in the match.
"That was the best feeling in college tennis ever," said Gheorghita after clinching the win over No. 44 Kansas.
On March 31, Gheorghita got her week rolling with a three-set win over Tulsa's Lian Benedejcic, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, bringing her record from the No. 6 spot to 3-1 in 2021.
"Ioana in the spotlight, she has been on fire all year. I give her a hell of a lot of credit," said head coach Jordan Smith following Saturday's win. "She lost at KU a couple of weeks ago and came back and won it for us."
The weekly award was split with Oklahoma's Ivana Corley, who helped the Sooners upend No. 16 UCF on Sunday afternoon in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Wildcats will face off with No. 9 Baylor (17-3, 4-1 Big 12) on Friday, April 9 at 3 p.m., CT and then will turn their attention to No. 2 Texas (18-1, 5-0 Big 12) on Sunday, April 11 at 11 a.m., CT. Both matches will be played at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, there will be a limited capacity for fans and spectators at each match this weekend. 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.
For the latest on K-State tennis follow @kstatesports and @KStateTEN on Twitter or K-State Women's Tennis on Facebook.
This is Gheorghita's first conference player of the week accolade and it also marks the first time the Wildcats have received a weekly award from the Big 12 since teammate Karine-Marion Job earned the same honor back on February 19, 2019.
In a winner-take-all scenario, Gheorghita helped deliver the Wildcats' first win in the Sunflower Showdown in nearly eight years, as the Ploiesti, Romania, native squeezed out four-straight games in her final set to take down Kansas' Tiffany Largarde, 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-4. Gheorghita now owns a four-match win streak since March 22.
Gheorghita's victory in the No. 5 spot would cap off the come-from-behind win on Saturday afternoon, as K-State had trailed the Jayhawks during several points in the match.
"That was the best feeling in college tennis ever," said Gheorghita after clinching the win over No. 44 Kansas.
On March 31, Gheorghita got her week rolling with a three-set win over Tulsa's Lian Benedejcic, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, bringing her record from the No. 6 spot to 3-1 in 2021.
"Ioana in the spotlight, she has been on fire all year. I give her a hell of a lot of credit," said head coach Jordan Smith following Saturday's win. "She lost at KU a couple of weeks ago and came back and won it for us."
The weekly award was split with Oklahoma's Ivana Corley, who helped the Sooners upend No. 16 UCF on Sunday afternoon in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Wildcats will face off with No. 9 Baylor (17-3, 4-1 Big 12) on Friday, April 9 at 3 p.m., CT and then will turn their attention to No. 2 Texas (18-1, 5-0 Big 12) on Sunday, April 11 at 11 a.m., CT. Both matches will be played at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, there will be a limited capacity for fans and spectators at each match this weekend. 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.
For the latest on K-State tennis follow @kstatesports and @KStateTEN on Twitter or K-State Women's Tennis on Facebook.
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