Two K-State Doubles Teams Advance in ITA Central Regional

The K-State women's tennis team completed another day in the main draw on Friday (Oct. 11) in the ITA Central Regional Championship at Leftwich Tennis Center.

In the main draw, the Wildcats faced off with a fellow Big 12 Conference team, the Oklahoma State Cowgirls, four times in the main draw. K-State fell short in all three singles matches but was victorious in doubles in 8 game pro sets.

Senior Veronika Kulhava and sophomore Tereza Polakova started the day defeating the Cowgirls' Ange Oby Kajuru and Anastasiya Komar, the ITA preseason no. 1 duo, in a high scoring tiebreaker to come out on top, 8-7, (8-6).

Another Wildcats pair, sophomore Maralgoo Chogsomjav and junior Maria Santos, were victorious over Sarah Millard and Carla Muro Catellbi from Arkansas State, winning 8-5.

Kulhava and Polakova and Chogsomjav and Santos will advance to the doubles quarterfinals on Saturday (Oct. 12).

Sophomores Charlotte Keitel and Zali Morris also encountered a tough doubles tiebreaker, facing in-state familiars Jasmine Adams and Kyoka Kubo from Kansas, falling short 7-8 (3-7).

In singles competition, Kulhava, Keitel and Polakova all suffered losses to OSU in the main draw.

Kulhava encountered a familiar foe, facing Kajuru for the second time in the day. Kulhava battled back in the second set but could not keep up the momentum, falling in straight sets, 1-6, 3-6.

Keitel and Polakova both fought into the third set against their Cowgirl opponents but could not walk away with the victory. Keitel faced Marcela Lopez and captured the first set 6-3, but dropped the second in similar fashion. She kept pushing but could not overcome Lopez, losing 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.

Polakova entered a long match with Gracie Epps, forcing a third set by dropping the first and winning 6-3 in the second. She kept her composure in a high scoring final set but fell two points shy of a win at 4-6, 6-3, 5-7.

Morris competed in the main draw consolation bracket after falling on Thursday to Oklahoma's Emma Staker. In her match versus Maria Taranova from Nebraska she battled in the first set, all the way to a tiebreaker, but she could not hold on, ultimately dropping in the second, 6-7 (3-7), 4-6.

Chogsomjav and junior Sana Garakani competed in another extra match, Chogsomjav successful over Minnesota's Jeselle Ante in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Garakani suffered an injury in her second set to Saniya Singh from Tulsa, retiring the match at 6-4, 6-7 (5-7).

Day four of the ITA Central Regional begins on Saturday at 9 a.m. CT, the K-State with two doubles teams in the main draw round of 16. The Wildcats will continue to compete in extra singles matches later in the afternoon.

FROM THE COURT
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On the success of the doubles teams…
"Really proud of our performances on the doubles court again today. One point away from winning all three matches. Started with a major achievement by Veronika and Teri beating the number one ranked doubles team in the nation. They have been on the verge of breaking through and glad they did it today. All six ladies did awesome out there and buying in to our way of playing."

ITA Central Regional Championship (Leftwich Tennis Center, Memphis, Tenn.)
Singles Competition, Main Draw
Second Round
Ange Oby Kajuru (OSU) def. Veronika Kulhava (KSU) 6-1, 6-3
Marcela Lopez (OSU) def. Charlotte Keitel (KSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Gracie Epps (OSU) def. Tereza Polakova (KSU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

Consolation
Maria Taranova (NEB) def. Zali Morris (KSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4

Doubles Competition, Main Draw
Round of 16
Veronika Kulhava/Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Ange Oby Kajuru/Anastasiya Komar (OSU) 8-7 (8-6)
Jasmine Adams/Kyoka Kubo (KU) def. Charlotte Keitel/Zali Morris (KSU) 8-7 (7-3)
Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Maria Santos (KSU) def. Sarah Millard/Carla Muro Castellbi (ASU) 8-5

Singles Competition, Extra Matches
Saniya Singh (TUL) def. Sana Garakani (KSU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) [ret.]
Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Jeselle Ante (MIN) 6-4, 6-3

-- k-statesports.com --

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Kansas State University Athletics

Two K-State Doubles Teams Advance in ITA Central Regional

Players Mentioned

Maralgoo Chogsomjav

Sana Garakani

Charlotte Keitel

Veronika Kulhava

Zali Morris

Tereza Polakova

Maria Santos

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