Early Singles Points Boost K-State to Victory Over Iowa

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State women's tennis team played outside at the Mike Goss Tennis Stadium for the first time this season on Friday (March 4) and finished the day with a 4-3 win over Iowa.

"It is tough because we had a quick turnaround from playing Nebraska," stated head coach Jordan Smith. "It is a tough week with three matches in four days. I am very happy we were able to manage our doubles point and start with a little more momentum than we usually do."

K-State (6-3) have now back-to-back matches after losing two straight during a West Coast swing.

The Wildcats picked up the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 spots.

At the number one doubles spot, seniors Karine-Marion Job and Maria Linares swept Vipasha Mehra and Samantha Mannix from Iowa, 6-0. Freshman Dinara Alloyarova and senior Anna Turco clinched the doubles point for the Wildcats with a 6-3 victory over Iowa's Barbora Pokorna and Michella Bacalla.

Freshman Florentine Dekkers and senior Ioana Gheorghita lost their doubles match with Iowa's Marisa Schmidt and Samantha Gillas, 6-4.

Earning the first singles point of the day was No. 96 Job at the No. 1 position. The Lyon, France native took down Schmidt from Iowa, 6-1, 6-1 in straight sets.

In her second victory of the day came from Linares at the number two spot with a 6-1, 6-3 victory against Mannix.

After falling in the first set, Dekkers made the comeback and closed out a three-set victory over Mehra, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 to clinch the match for K-State at the No. 4 position.

In a tie breaker match, senior Rosanna Maffei couldn't keep up with Bacalla from Iowa and dropped her singles match 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 1-0 (10-6).

Gillas was too much Gheorghita on court five in two-sets, 6-2, 6-4.

Hawkeyes' Pokorna overpowered Turco in two-sets, 6-4, 6-2, claiming the second point for Iowa.

"Job changed some of her habits after a tough couple of road matches and a really nice match against Nebraska," said Smith. "Maria has been a rock all year. She has been composed, not getting rattled. She does what she needs to do."

It will be a quick turnaround for K-State as the Wildcats host No. 42 Northwestern at the Body First Indoor Tennis Center on Saturday (March 5) at 12 p.m. CT.

K-State vs. Iowa
March 4, 2022 at Manhattan, Kan.
(Mike Goss Tennis Stadium)

K-State 4, Iowa 3

Singles
1. #96 Karine-Marion Job (KSU) def. Marisa Schmidt (IOWA) 6-1, 6-1
2. Maria Linares (KSU) def. Samantha Mannix (IOWA) 6-1, 6-3
3. Michelle Bacalla (IOWA) def. #108 Rosanna Maffei (KSU) 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 1-0 (10-6)
4. Florentine Dekkers (KSU) def. Vipasha Mehra (IOWA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
5. Samantha Gillas (IOWA) def. Ioana Gheorghita (KSU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Barbora Pokorna (IOWA) def. Anna Turco (KSU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
1. Karine-Marion Job/Maria Linares (KSU) def. Vipasha Mehra/Samantha Mannix (IOWA) 6-0
2. Marisa Schmidt/Samantha Gillas (IOWA) def. Florentine Dekkers/Ioana Gheorghita (KSU) 6-4
3. Dinara Alloyarova/Anna Turco (KSU) def. Barbora Pokorna/Michelle Bacalla (IOWA) 6-3

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

Early Singles Points Boost K-State to Victory Over Iowa

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Dinara Alloyarova

Florentine Dekkers

Ioana Gheorghita

Karine-Marion Job

Maria Linares

Rosanna Maffei

Anna Turco