Kulhava, Morris Advance to ITA Central Regional Main Draw
Oct 09, 2024 | Tennis
Four Wildcats will compete in the singles main draw on Thursday
The K-State women's tennis team started competition in the ITA Central Regional Championship on Wednesday (Oct. 9) with five women in the singles qualifying draw at the Leftwich Tennis Center.
After two victories on the first day, senior Veronika Kulhava and sophomore Zali Morris will advance to the singles main draw on Thursday (Oct. 10). Sophomores Charlotte Keitel and Tereza Polakova will also take to the courts in the first round.
Sophomore Maralgoo Chogsomjav and juniors Sana Garakani and Maria Santos started the day all securing wins in the first round of the qualifying draw before falling in the second round.
In her first match, Kulhava encountered a tiebreaker in the second set with the hosting Tigers' Clemence Thouard before coming out on top 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). She then swept her second opponent, Lilly Cvanciger from Arkansas State, in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.
Morris started the day against Central Arkansas' Nonoka Kazama in a 6-4, 6-4 decision. In her second match with Minnesota's Anlin Xie, she dropped the first set 5-7 before battling back in the next two sets to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
To start, Chogsomjav clinched in straight sets over North Dakota's Jule Schulte, 6-1, 6-2, she then encountered a three set battle against Arkansas' Katarina Pavlechova. After dropping the first set she came back in a high scoring second but couldn't keep the momentum, falling short 4-6, 7-5, 1-6.
Santos defeated Central Arkansas' Konomi Miyakawa, 6-3, 6-1 in her first match before facing Meriem Ben Ezzedine from Kansas where she lost 6-2, 6-2.
Garakani's first match left another opponent, Nicolly Ferreira from Saint Louis, scoreless in the first set, 6-0, 6-2. Later in the day against Katarina Pavlechova of Arkansas, Garakani forced a third set with a score of 7-5 but ultimately suffered a loss at 4-6, 7-5, 1-6.
Competition in the main draw of the ITA Central Regional begins on Thursday, doubles matches starting at 9 a.m. CT with singles play at 12 p.m CT.
FROM THE COURT
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On the team's performance on day one…
"Solid first day for our team winning seven out of 10 matches in singles. Really happy with our start winning every match in round one. Tougher competition in round two, but pleased that we were able to advance more players to tomorrow. Our team is making progress and finding more confidence each day."
ITA Central Regional Championship (Leftwich Tennis Center, Memphis, Tenn.)
Singles Competition, Qualifying Draw
First Round
Maria Santos (KSU) def. Konomi Miyakawa (UCA) 6-3, 6-1
Sana Garakani (KSU) def. Nicolly Ferreira (SLU) 6-0, 6-2
Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Jule Schulte (ND) 6-1, 6-2
Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Clemence Thouard (MEM) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
Zali Morris (KSU) def. Nonoka Kazama (UCA) 6-4, 6-4
Second Round
Meriem Ben Ezzedine (KU) def. Maria Santos (KSU) 6-2, 6-2
Cara Mester (OU) def. Sana Garakani (KSU) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2
Katarina Pavlechova (ARK) def. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Lilly Cvanciger (ASU) 6-1, 6-1
Zali Morris (KSU) def. Anlin Xie (MIN) 5-7, 6-1, 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), Instagram and Facebook.
After two victories on the first day, senior Veronika Kulhava and sophomore Zali Morris will advance to the singles main draw on Thursday (Oct. 10). Sophomores Charlotte Keitel and Tereza Polakova will also take to the courts in the first round.
Sophomore Maralgoo Chogsomjav and juniors Sana Garakani and Maria Santos started the day all securing wins in the first round of the qualifying draw before falling in the second round.
In her first match, Kulhava encountered a tiebreaker in the second set with the hosting Tigers' Clemence Thouard before coming out on top 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). She then swept her second opponent, Lilly Cvanciger from Arkansas State, in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.
Morris started the day against Central Arkansas' Nonoka Kazama in a 6-4, 6-4 decision. In her second match with Minnesota's Anlin Xie, she dropped the first set 5-7 before battling back in the next two sets to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
To start, Chogsomjav clinched in straight sets over North Dakota's Jule Schulte, 6-1, 6-2, she then encountered a three set battle against Arkansas' Katarina Pavlechova. After dropping the first set she came back in a high scoring second but couldn't keep the momentum, falling short 4-6, 7-5, 1-6.
Santos defeated Central Arkansas' Konomi Miyakawa, 6-3, 6-1 in her first match before facing Meriem Ben Ezzedine from Kansas where she lost 6-2, 6-2.
Garakani's first match left another opponent, Nicolly Ferreira from Saint Louis, scoreless in the first set, 6-0, 6-2. Later in the day against Katarina Pavlechova of Arkansas, Garakani forced a third set with a score of 7-5 but ultimately suffered a loss at 4-6, 7-5, 1-6.
Competition in the main draw of the ITA Central Regional begins on Thursday, doubles matches starting at 9 a.m. CT with singles play at 12 p.m CT.
FROM THE COURT
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On the team's performance on day one…
"Solid first day for our team winning seven out of 10 matches in singles. Really happy with our start winning every match in round one. Tougher competition in round two, but pleased that we were able to advance more players to tomorrow. Our team is making progress and finding more confidence each day."
ITA Central Regional Championship (Leftwich Tennis Center, Memphis, Tenn.)
Singles Competition, Qualifying Draw
First Round
Maria Santos (KSU) def. Konomi Miyakawa (UCA) 6-3, 6-1
Sana Garakani (KSU) def. Nicolly Ferreira (SLU) 6-0, 6-2
Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Jule Schulte (ND) 6-1, 6-2
Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Clemence Thouard (MEM) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
Zali Morris (KSU) def. Nonoka Kazama (UCA) 6-4, 6-4
Second Round
Meriem Ben Ezzedine (KU) def. Maria Santos (KSU) 6-2, 6-2
Cara Mester (OU) def. Sana Garakani (KSU) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2
Katarina Pavlechova (ARK) def. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Lilly Cvanciger (ASU) 6-1, 6-1
Zali Morris (KSU) def. Anlin Xie (MIN) 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
-- k-statesports.com --
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), Instagram and Facebook.
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