Six Wildcats All Claim Singles Wins in ITA Central Regional
Oct 13, 2023 | Tennis
K-State advances three women in the main draw bracket
LAWRENCE, Kan.- The K-State women's tennis team claimed seven singles wins in a full day of competition on Friday (Oct. 13) at the ITA Central Regionals at the Jayhawk Tennis Center in Lawrence, Kan.
Five Wildcats competed in two singles matches each during the second day of the tournament, encountering competitive hours long three sets battles, highlighted by junior Veronika Kulhava who went undefeated.
Kulhava's first match of the tournament she was challenged in three sets against Wichita State's Theodora Chantava that lasted two and a half hours. She claimed the first set, 6-1, before dropping the second, 7-6 (7-4), and then battled back in the last set 7-6 (7-5). She was victorious again, this time in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, over Gabriela Martinez of Missouri.
Freshman Tereza Polakova's first singles match against Sofia Pizzoni of Minnesota also went into three sets, where she dropped the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-2), before battling back and winning the next two sets in similar fashion at 6-4, 6-4. Her second match of the day against Oklahoma's Julia Garcia Ruiz she lost the first set, 6-2, then could not overcome the deficit, being defeated, 6-2, 7-6.
Sophomore Vanesa Suarez competed in only one singles match in the afternoon, also battling in lengthy three sets. Facing Nebraska's Anfisa Danilchenko she claimed the first set, 6-4, before losing the second set and bouncing back, 4-6, 7-5.
Senior Aleen Quamar started her day with a win against Katie Ferguson of Arkansas, 6-4, 6-2. During her second match she won the first set, 4-6, against Ines Stephani of Drake, but dropped the second set, 6-2, and could not bounce back, losing 6-2, 7-5.
Senior Manami Ukita breezed past her first competitor, Yana Gaskell of Lindenwood, in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1. Her next competitor was Iowa's Daianne Hayashida; she came close in the first set, 7-5, but could not bounce back, losing 7-5, 6-2.
Freshman Charlotte Keitel defeated Beata Havlickova from South Dakota, 6-4, 6-2 before facing Oklahoma's Emma Staker where she came up short in the second set, losing 6-3, 6-4.
The day started with doubles matches, competing in eight game pro sets, where Suarez and Ukita claimed two wins over their opponents, now 4-2 in fall competition, Harkin and Keitel going 1-1.
Suarez and Ukita swept Missouri State's Cristine Flaquer and Mary Houston, 8-0, before also defeating Kseniia Aleshina and Elizabeth Mintusova from Saint Louis, 8-3. Freshman Jillian Harkin and Keitel first defeated Cydney Rogers Margaux Guibal Britt from Southeastern Illinois, 8-4, before dropping their second match, 8-2, to Nebraska's Raphaelle Lacasse and Isabel Adrover Gallego.
Polakova and Kulhava were defeated by Christine and Mae Canete of Missouri, 8-2. Quamar and sophomore Maria Santos also suffered a loss, 8-3, by Mille Haagensen and Darinka Stepan for Drake.
On Saturday (Oct. 14), K-State advances three women—Kulhava, Suarez and Ukita-- in main draw action. Kulhava and Suarez will enter the singles round of 32, Kulhava against Iowa State's Anna Supapitch Kuearum, Suarez facing Ange Oby Kajuru of Oklahoma State. Duo, Suarez and Ukita, advances to the doubles round of 16, facing OSU's Kajuru and Anastasiya Komar.
FROM THE COURT
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On the physical and mental toll of the day…
"Today was a massive mental grind for everyone. Spending more than 13 hours at the courts and playing in tough weather again. It could have been easy for our team to lose focus and become impatient throughout the day. However, they really impressed us with how hard they fought and played today."
On the challenges the team faced today…
"It started with picking up more doubles wins in the morning. The ladies did a great job going perfect in wins during morning singles. Faced some tougher challenges during the second round but a lot to be proud of from everyone. Overall, happy to have players advancing in both singles and doubles main draws. Have to come back mentally ready for another battle tomorrow. Which I know our team is ready for."
ITA Central Regionals
Lawrence, Kan.
Jayhawk Tennis Center
Singles Competition
Aleen Quamar (KSU) def. Katie Ferguson (UARK) 6-4, 6-2
Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Yana Gaskell (LIND) 6-0, 6-1
Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Sofia Pizzoni (UMIN) 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4
Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Beata Havlickova (USD) 6-4, 6-2
Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Theodora Chantava (WSU) 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5)
Ines Stephani (DRAK) def. Aleen Quamar (KSU) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
Daianne Hayashida (IOWA) def. Manami Ukita (KSU) 5-7, 2-6
Julia Garcia Ruiz (OU) def. Tereza Polakova (KSU) 6-2, 7-6
Emma Staker (OU) def. Charlotte Keitel (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Gabriela Martinez (MIZZ) 6-4, 6-1
Vanesa Suarez (KSU) def. Anfisa Danilchenko (NEB) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Doubles Competition
Vanesa Suarez/Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Cristine Flaquer/Mary Houston (MSU) 8-0
Christine Canete/Mae Canete (MIZZ) def. Tereza Polakova/Veronika Kulahava (KSU) 8-2
Jillian Harkin/Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Cydney Rogers/Margaux Guibal Britt (SEIU) 8-4
Mille Haagensen/Darinka Stepan (DRAK) def. Aleen Quamar/Maria Santos (KSU) 8-3
Vanesa Suarez/Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Kseniia Aleshina/Elizabeth Mintusova (SLU) 8-3
Raphaelle Lacasse/Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Jillian Harkin/Charlotte Keitel (KSU) 8-2
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Women's Tennis Team, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Facebook and Instagram.
Five Wildcats competed in two singles matches each during the second day of the tournament, encountering competitive hours long three sets battles, highlighted by junior Veronika Kulhava who went undefeated.
Kulhava's first match of the tournament she was challenged in three sets against Wichita State's Theodora Chantava that lasted two and a half hours. She claimed the first set, 6-1, before dropping the second, 7-6 (7-4), and then battled back in the last set 7-6 (7-5). She was victorious again, this time in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, over Gabriela Martinez of Missouri.
Freshman Tereza Polakova's first singles match against Sofia Pizzoni of Minnesota also went into three sets, where she dropped the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-2), before battling back and winning the next two sets in similar fashion at 6-4, 6-4. Her second match of the day against Oklahoma's Julia Garcia Ruiz she lost the first set, 6-2, then could not overcome the deficit, being defeated, 6-2, 7-6.
Sophomore Vanesa Suarez competed in only one singles match in the afternoon, also battling in lengthy three sets. Facing Nebraska's Anfisa Danilchenko she claimed the first set, 6-4, before losing the second set and bouncing back, 4-6, 7-5.
Senior Aleen Quamar started her day with a win against Katie Ferguson of Arkansas, 6-4, 6-2. During her second match she won the first set, 4-6, against Ines Stephani of Drake, but dropped the second set, 6-2, and could not bounce back, losing 6-2, 7-5.
Senior Manami Ukita breezed past her first competitor, Yana Gaskell of Lindenwood, in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1. Her next competitor was Iowa's Daianne Hayashida; she came close in the first set, 7-5, but could not bounce back, losing 7-5, 6-2.
Freshman Charlotte Keitel defeated Beata Havlickova from South Dakota, 6-4, 6-2 before facing Oklahoma's Emma Staker where she came up short in the second set, losing 6-3, 6-4.
The day started with doubles matches, competing in eight game pro sets, where Suarez and Ukita claimed two wins over their opponents, now 4-2 in fall competition, Harkin and Keitel going 1-1.
Suarez and Ukita swept Missouri State's Cristine Flaquer and Mary Houston, 8-0, before also defeating Kseniia Aleshina and Elizabeth Mintusova from Saint Louis, 8-3. Freshman Jillian Harkin and Keitel first defeated Cydney Rogers Margaux Guibal Britt from Southeastern Illinois, 8-4, before dropping their second match, 8-2, to Nebraska's Raphaelle Lacasse and Isabel Adrover Gallego.
Polakova and Kulhava were defeated by Christine and Mae Canete of Missouri, 8-2. Quamar and sophomore Maria Santos also suffered a loss, 8-3, by Mille Haagensen and Darinka Stepan for Drake.
On Saturday (Oct. 14), K-State advances three women—Kulhava, Suarez and Ukita-- in main draw action. Kulhava and Suarez will enter the singles round of 32, Kulhava against Iowa State's Anna Supapitch Kuearum, Suarez facing Ange Oby Kajuru of Oklahoma State. Duo, Suarez and Ukita, advances to the doubles round of 16, facing OSU's Kajuru and Anastasiya Komar.
FROM THE COURT
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On the physical and mental toll of the day…
"Today was a massive mental grind for everyone. Spending more than 13 hours at the courts and playing in tough weather again. It could have been easy for our team to lose focus and become impatient throughout the day. However, they really impressed us with how hard they fought and played today."
On the challenges the team faced today…
"It started with picking up more doubles wins in the morning. The ladies did a great job going perfect in wins during morning singles. Faced some tougher challenges during the second round but a lot to be proud of from everyone. Overall, happy to have players advancing in both singles and doubles main draws. Have to come back mentally ready for another battle tomorrow. Which I know our team is ready for."
ITA Central Regionals
Lawrence, Kan.
Jayhawk Tennis Center
Singles Competition
Aleen Quamar (KSU) def. Katie Ferguson (UARK) 6-4, 6-2
Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Yana Gaskell (LIND) 6-0, 6-1
Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Sofia Pizzoni (UMIN) 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4
Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Beata Havlickova (USD) 6-4, 6-2
Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Theodora Chantava (WSU) 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5)
Ines Stephani (DRAK) def. Aleen Quamar (KSU) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
Daianne Hayashida (IOWA) def. Manami Ukita (KSU) 5-7, 2-6
Julia Garcia Ruiz (OU) def. Tereza Polakova (KSU) 6-2, 7-6
Emma Staker (OU) def. Charlotte Keitel (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Gabriela Martinez (MIZZ) 6-4, 6-1
Vanesa Suarez (KSU) def. Anfisa Danilchenko (NEB) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Doubles Competition
Vanesa Suarez/Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Cristine Flaquer/Mary Houston (MSU) 8-0
Christine Canete/Mae Canete (MIZZ) def. Tereza Polakova/Veronika Kulahava (KSU) 8-2
Jillian Harkin/Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Cydney Rogers/Margaux Guibal Britt (SEIU) 8-4
Mille Haagensen/Darinka Stepan (DRAK) def. Aleen Quamar/Maria Santos (KSU) 8-3
Vanesa Suarez/Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Kseniia Aleshina/Elizabeth Mintusova (SLU) 8-3
Raphaelle Lacasse/Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Jillian Harkin/Charlotte Keitel (KSU) 8-2
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Women's Tennis Team, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
K-State Tennis | Weekend Recap vs Old Dominion & Minnesota
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Tennis | Court Updates and Resurfacing
Tuesday, November 11
K-State TEN | Court Resurfacing
Thursday, November 06
K-State Tennis Practice highlights
Tuesday, September 02
