Wildcats Finish 6-2 in Nonconference With 7-0 Win Over Fordham

MANHATTAN, Kan.- The K-State women's tennis team ended the nonconference slate on Saturday (Feb. 17) with a 7-0 victory over Fordham at Body First Tennis Center.

K-State (6-2) won their second straight doubles point, while Fordham (3-3) could not find their footing, including two singles matchups in eight game pro sets.

In doubles competition, freshman Maralgoo Chogsomjav and senior Manami Ukita claimed the first match, 6-1, over Raffaela Alhach and Anlin Xie in the no. 3 spot. Freshmen Jillian Harkin and Charlotte Keitel won in similar fashion in the no. 2 position, 6-1 over Xintong Zhou and Julianne Nguyen.

Junior Veronika Kulhava and freshman Tereza Polakova went unfinished 3-3 in the no. 1 spot against Xiaowei Hu and Eleni Fasoula.

Sophomore Maria Santos claimed the first singles win for the 'Cats in the no. 6 spot, defeating Nguyen 6-1, 6-0.

Kulhava was victorious over Zhou in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0 in the no. 2 position, her first win since Feb. 3 against Iowa.

Ukita captured her first career win in the no. 1 spot, sweeping Alhach 6-1, 6-2.

Extending her singles win streak to three, Chogsomjav won 6-4, 6-4 over Xie in the no. 4 position.

Keitel and Polakova competed in 8 game pro sets, Keitel sweeping Hu 8-0 in the no. 3 position, while Polakova had a high scoring 8-4 win over Fasoula in the no. 5 spot.

K-State will take a break before starting Big 12 conference play on Friday, March 1 at home against Iowa State at 4 p.m.

FROM THE COURTS
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On how the team performed today...
"Thought we were very efficient today, I think that was the biggest thing we were trying to get to. We've been on the road for four matches in a row and it's been really challenging. So we're happy to get back here for a little bit, have a little home stand. It was a lighter practice week so we kind of didn't know what to expect but the fact that we got better at doubles and we played really two quality matches at two and three. I'm proud of how well the team just came out and competed in singles and I think the biggest thing we've been preaching is like, every girl needs to know their worth and you know, set your own standard and don't let anyone change that."

On the two week break before starting conference play...
"The reason I planned out the schedule like this was just [to] give us a little bit of a time to regroup. It's a fast paced non conference, and it's going to be a fast conference. So, you know, we're gonna work hard this week, for five days and kind of give the girls the weekend off. Just kind of get healthy and then we know that, hey, Iowa State and KU, especially KU being the Sunflower Showdown, they're going to come in and they're gonna be ready to go as well. And so I think, you know, the biggest thing for us is how well we're going to be excited and how well we're going to be ready for challenges, especially coming that first day against Iowa State."

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

K-State 7, Fordham 0

Singles Competition
1. Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Raffaela Alhach (FOWWT) 6-1, 6-2
2. Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Xintong Zhou (FOWWT) 6-4, 6-0
3. Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Xiaowei Hu (FOWWT) 8-0*
4. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Anlin Xie (FOWWT) 6-4, 6-4
5. Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Eleni Fasoula (FOWWT) 8-4*
6. Maria Santos (KSU) def. Julianne Nguyen (FOWWT) 6-1, 6-0
*8 game pro set

Doubles Competition
1. Veronika Kulhava/Tereza Polakova (KSU) vs Xiaowei Hu/Eleni Fasoula (FOWWT) 3-3, unfinished
2. Jillian Harkin/Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Xintong Zhou/Julianne Nguyen (FOWWT) 6-1
3. Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Raffaela Alhach/Anlin Xie (FOWWT) 6-1

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.

Wildcats Finish 6-2 in Nonconference With 7-0 Win Over Fordham

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Players Mentioned

Maralgoo Chogsomjav

Jillian Harkin

Charlotte Keitel

Veronika Kulhava

Tereza Polakova

Maria Santos

Manami Ukita