Wildcats Capture 6-1 Win Against Drake to Start the Spring

Saturday, January 20

Manhattan, Kan.

1 p.m.

Kansas State University

Drake

Wildcats Capture 6-1 Win Against Drake to Start the Spring

Jan 20, 2024 | Tennis

Box Score (.pdf)

K-State will travel to Wichita State next Friday (Jan. 26) for the first road match

MANHATTAN, Kan.- The K-State women's tennis team kicked off the spring season with a 6-1 win at home against Drake on Saturday (Jan. 20) at Body First Tennis Center.

K-State (1-0) swept their opponents in straight sets after Drake (0-1) claimed the doubles point.

Freshmen Jillian Harkin and Charlotte Keitel claimed a 6-2 win against Drake's Nicole Lee and Elizabete Klavinska in the no. 3 spot but the Bulldogs claimed the following two doubles wins for the point.

In the no. 2 spot sophomore Vanesa Suarez and senior Manami Ukita could not hang on, Rebecca Ehn and Ines Stephani winning 6-4. Drake's Darinka Stepan and Mille Haagensen then pulled away with the win, 6-4, in the no. 3 position against junior Veronika Kulhava and freshman Tereza Polakova.

Ukita claimed the first singles win of the day in the no. 2 position sweeping Mille Haagensen 6-3, 6-1.

Suarez faced Ines Stephani in the no. 1 spot with a win in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

Kulhava, a transfer from Temple University, earned her first dual match win as a Wildcat over Elizabete Klavinska in the no. 3 position at 6-2, 6-4.

Keitel swept Rebecca Ehn 6-2, 6-1 in the no. 4 spot to clinch the first win of the season for K-State.

Finishing out their matches, Polakova battled in the no. 5 position against Darinka Stepan before competing unanswered, 6-4, 6-0. Sophomore Maria Santos secured the sweep for the Wildcats with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Nicole Lee in the no. 6 spot.

K-State will travel in-state on Friday (Jan. 26) for a match up against Wichita State (1-1) at the Wichita Country Club at 4 p.m. CT.

FROM THE COURT
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On the doubles result to start the match…
"Happy to get a win at home with this group. Drake was a tournament team from last year so knew they would come out strong in doules. We left some points out there at the start of doubles by thankfully we gained a little momentum with our win on court 3."

On the results of the singles matches…
"Proud of how the team responded after the doubles point today. We settled down in singles and competed very well. Overall, it was a hard fought, complete effort by our ladies. It's a young team but happy to see where they can go. Will have to be tougher for our next match against Wichita State."

K-State vs Drake
Manhattan, Kan.
Body First Tennis Center

K-State 6, Drake 1

Singles Competition
1. Vanesa Suarez (KSU) def. Ines Stephani (UD) 6-3, 6-4
2. Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Mille Haagensen (UD) 6-3, 6-1
3. Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Elizabete Klavinska (UD) 6-2, 6-4
4. Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Rebecca Ehn (UD) 6-2, 6-1
5. Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Darinka Stepan (UD) 6-4, 6-0
6. Maria Santos (KSU) def. Nicole Lee (UD) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles Competition
1. Darinka Stepan/Mille Haagensen (UD) def. Veronika Kulhava/Tereza Polakova (KSU) 6-4
2. Rebecca Ehn/Ines Stephani (UD) def. Vanesa Suarez/Manami Ukita (KSU) 6-4
3. Jillian Harkin/Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Nicole Lee/Elizabete Klavinska (UD) 6-2

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.