Two Wildcats Find Success in Singles Semifinal Matches in Big 12 Fall Invite
Nov 11, 2023 | Tennis
The final day of the fall season takes place Sunday, Nov. 12
WACO, Texas- The K-State women's tennis team were victorious on Saturday (Nov. 11) in two singles semifinal matches on the third day of the Big 12 Fall Invitational in Waco, Texas at Hurd Tennis Center.
Competing in two different draws, freshman Charlotte Keitel and sophomore Maria Santos saw success in the semifinal round, Keitel already crowned champion of her bracket.
Keitel battled in three sets against Romana Cisovska from Oklahoma, dropping the first set before coming back and taking control 5-7, 6-4, 10-5. Her opponent from BYU cannot competed on Sunday, declaring her the champion.
Santos also competed against the Sooner's, Zdena Safarova, where she was able to claim the win in a second set tiebreaker, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
Sophomore Vanesa Suarez and senior Aleen Quamar also competed in semifinal matches but could not hold on to a win. Suarez was defeated in straight sets by Zuzanna Kubacha from Baylor, 6-4, 6-4. Quamar encountered a three set battle with Houston's Nina Skoric, winning the first set before dropping the second. She fought back in the third set tiebreaker but untimately suffered a loss at 5-7, 6-3, 10-8.
K-State had two women compete in singles consolation matches, freshman Tereza Polakova and junior Veronika Kulhava. Polakova saw success in two low scoring sets against Gabrielle Guenther from Cincinnatti, 6-2, 6-2. Kulhava competed in her consecutive three set match, unable to claim a win against Oklahoma's Ava Catanzarite. She won the first set before keeping a close score all the way to the end, but falling short 1-6, 7-6, 11-9.
The Wildcats competed in six doubles matches, with Suarez and senior Manami Ukita in the main draw quarterfinals. Competing against the Sooner's Dana Guzman and Safarova, they were defeated 6-2.
Duo Kulhava and Polakova claimed victories in two matches, finding success first against the Bearcat's Isabel Pacheco and Sakurako Watanabe, 6-2, before also defeating Blanca Cortijo Parreno and Gabriela Cortes from Houston, 6-3.
Keitel and Santos won their first match as a pair, defeating the Cougar's Skoric and Elena Trencheva, 6-2. They competed in another match but could not repeat their success, losing 6-4 to BYU's Bitsy Tullis and Madison Smith.
Taking the court for her only match of the day, freshman Jillian Harkin partnered with Quamar where they ultimately fell short against Sonya Kovalenko and Sophie Schouten of Houston, 6-4.
The final day of competition, as well as the fall schedule, will take place Sunday, Nov. 12. Santos will go head to head in a championship match, the rest of the 'Cats also playing in an addition singles match.
FROM THE COURT
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On overcoming challenges during the third day of competition…
"Another good day overall from this group competing and representing K-State in the best way possible. Everyone played better in doubles today. Still figuring out partners but they're learning and will be better in the spring.
Proud of our fight in singles today. Had to battle through some tough challenges and none of our ladies got uncomfortable. All of them welcomed the challenge. It was great to see."
On the success of Keitel and Santos…
"Another complete weekend for Charlotte in singles. Awesome to see her continue her form from TCU and win her bracket. Been a really good fall from her so far. Happy to see how Maria does in her final tomorrow. Plus all of other matches as well."
Big 12 Fall Invitational
Hurd Tennis Center
Waco, Texas
Singles Competition
Semifinal Matches
Zuzanna Kubacha (BU) def. Vanesa Suarez (KSU) 6-4, 6-4
Maria Santos (KSU) def. Zdena Safarova (OU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Romana Cisovska (OU) 5-7, 6-4, 10-5
Nina Skoric (HOU) def. Aleen Quamar (KSU) 5-7, 6-3, 10-8
Consolation Matches
Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Gabrielle Guenther (CIN) 6-2, 6-2
Ava Catanzarite (OU) def. Veronika Kulhava (KSU) 1-6, 7-6, 11-9
Doubles Competition
Main Draw
Dana Guzman/Zdena Safarova (OU) def. Vanesa Suarez/Manami Ukita (KSU) 6-2
Consolation Matches
Veronika Kulhava/Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Isabel Pacheco/Sakurako Watanabe (CIN) 6-2
Charlotte Keitel/Maria Santos (KSU) def. Nina Skoric/Elena Trencheva (HOU) 6-2
Sonya Kovalenko/Sophie Schouten (HOU) def. Jillian Harkin/Aleen Quamar (KSU) 6-4
Veronika Kulhava/Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Blanca Cortijo Parreno/Gabriela Cortes (HOU) 6-3
Bitsy Tullis/Madison Smith (BYU) def. Charlotte Keitel/Maria Santos (KSU) 6-4
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.
Competing in two different draws, freshman Charlotte Keitel and sophomore Maria Santos saw success in the semifinal round, Keitel already crowned champion of her bracket.
Keitel battled in three sets against Romana Cisovska from Oklahoma, dropping the first set before coming back and taking control 5-7, 6-4, 10-5. Her opponent from BYU cannot competed on Sunday, declaring her the champion.
Santos also competed against the Sooner's, Zdena Safarova, where she was able to claim the win in a second set tiebreaker, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
Sophomore Vanesa Suarez and senior Aleen Quamar also competed in semifinal matches but could not hold on to a win. Suarez was defeated in straight sets by Zuzanna Kubacha from Baylor, 6-4, 6-4. Quamar encountered a three set battle with Houston's Nina Skoric, winning the first set before dropping the second. She fought back in the third set tiebreaker but untimately suffered a loss at 5-7, 6-3, 10-8.
K-State had two women compete in singles consolation matches, freshman Tereza Polakova and junior Veronika Kulhava. Polakova saw success in two low scoring sets against Gabrielle Guenther from Cincinnatti, 6-2, 6-2. Kulhava competed in her consecutive three set match, unable to claim a win against Oklahoma's Ava Catanzarite. She won the first set before keeping a close score all the way to the end, but falling short 1-6, 7-6, 11-9.
The Wildcats competed in six doubles matches, with Suarez and senior Manami Ukita in the main draw quarterfinals. Competing against the Sooner's Dana Guzman and Safarova, they were defeated 6-2.
Duo Kulhava and Polakova claimed victories in two matches, finding success first against the Bearcat's Isabel Pacheco and Sakurako Watanabe, 6-2, before also defeating Blanca Cortijo Parreno and Gabriela Cortes from Houston, 6-3.
Keitel and Santos won their first match as a pair, defeating the Cougar's Skoric and Elena Trencheva, 6-2. They competed in another match but could not repeat their success, losing 6-4 to BYU's Bitsy Tullis and Madison Smith.
Taking the court for her only match of the day, freshman Jillian Harkin partnered with Quamar where they ultimately fell short against Sonya Kovalenko and Sophie Schouten of Houston, 6-4.
The final day of competition, as well as the fall schedule, will take place Sunday, Nov. 12. Santos will go head to head in a championship match, the rest of the 'Cats also playing in an addition singles match.
FROM THE COURT
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On overcoming challenges during the third day of competition…
"Another good day overall from this group competing and representing K-State in the best way possible. Everyone played better in doubles today. Still figuring out partners but they're learning and will be better in the spring.
Proud of our fight in singles today. Had to battle through some tough challenges and none of our ladies got uncomfortable. All of them welcomed the challenge. It was great to see."
On the success of Keitel and Santos…
"Another complete weekend for Charlotte in singles. Awesome to see her continue her form from TCU and win her bracket. Been a really good fall from her so far. Happy to see how Maria does in her final tomorrow. Plus all of other matches as well."
Big 12 Fall Invitational
Hurd Tennis Center
Waco, Texas
Singles Competition
Semifinal Matches
Zuzanna Kubacha (BU) def. Vanesa Suarez (KSU) 6-4, 6-4
Maria Santos (KSU) def. Zdena Safarova (OU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Romana Cisovska (OU) 5-7, 6-4, 10-5
Nina Skoric (HOU) def. Aleen Quamar (KSU) 5-7, 6-3, 10-8
Consolation Matches
Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Gabrielle Guenther (CIN) 6-2, 6-2
Ava Catanzarite (OU) def. Veronika Kulhava (KSU) 1-6, 7-6, 11-9
Doubles Competition
Main Draw
Dana Guzman/Zdena Safarova (OU) def. Vanesa Suarez/Manami Ukita (KSU) 6-2
Consolation Matches
Veronika Kulhava/Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Isabel Pacheco/Sakurako Watanabe (CIN) 6-2
Charlotte Keitel/Maria Santos (KSU) def. Nina Skoric/Elena Trencheva (HOU) 6-2
Sonya Kovalenko/Sophie Schouten (HOU) def. Jillian Harkin/Aleen Quamar (KSU) 6-4
Veronika Kulhava/Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Blanca Cortijo Parreno/Gabriela Cortes (HOU) 6-3
Bitsy Tullis/Madison Smith (BYU) def. Charlotte Keitel/Maria Santos (KSU) 6-4
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.
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