K-State Starts Conference Slate With 6-1 Win Over Iowa State

MANHATTAN, Kan.- The K-State women's tennis team started Big 12 conference play with a 6-1 win over the Iowa State Cyclones on Friday (March 1) at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.

No. 58 K-State (7-2) was able to win the doubles point on one court and begin singles play with a two point advantage as Iowa State (2-6) forfeit one doubles and singles match due to a lack of players. It's the Wildcats' first win over the Cyclones since 2019.

Junior Veronika Kulhava and freshman Tereza Polakova defeated Isabella Dunlap and Anna Supapitch Kuearum 6-2 in the no. 1 spot. Freshmen Jillian Harkin and Charlotte Keitel went unfinished in the no. 2 position, 3-4, against Ashlee Narker and Gala Arangio.

Senior Manami Ukita claimed the first singles win of the day in the no. 3 spot, defeating Narker 6-1, 6-4.

Keitel and freshman Maralgoo Chogsomjav extended their win streaks to five and four matches, respectively. Keitel defeated Valeska San Martin 6-4, 6-2 in the no. 4 position, Chogsomjav sweeping Arangio 6-3, 6-3 in the no. 5 spot.

Kulhava encountered a high scoring second set, hanging on against Dunlap, being victorious 6-1, 7-5 in the no. 2 position.

Sophomore Vanesa Suarez, ranked no. 58, was the only one to suffer a loss, her first of the spring, being defeated by Supaptich Kuearum. She fell short in the first set 2-6, but battled back in a tense second set, just unable to keep the momentum, losing 6-2, 7-5.

The Wildcats will continue the homestand by hosting Kansas (2-6) in the Sunflower Showdown on Sunday (March 3) at 12 p.m. at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.

FROM THE COURTS
Head Coach Jordan Smith
On the first conference win of the season...
"I mean that was awesome. You know, it's been a while since we've gotten a conference win, almost two years. I knew this is gonna be a different Iowa State team, but still, they're coming off a great year, last year. So anytime you can get a win in conference, against anyone in this league, it's great. And so, you know, the way our team came out in doubles, it was a different atmosphere when they only have five players, but the fact that we didn't let it bother us, we went out there to play to win. We're gonna protect our home and I'm just so proud of how we just played from beginning to end our tennis and we just kept going."

On preparing to face Kansas on Sunday...
"KU is a talented team, they were top 25 last year, a lot of the same girls. Just gonna be who wants it more on Sunday, you know, coming off two Friday matches for both of us. I think I like our chances, but we're gonna have to earn it and we're gonna have to work and want it more, because that's a big one, Sunflower Showdown, we're trying to be the best in the state."

Iowa State vs K-State
Manhattan, Kan.
Mike Goss Tennis Stadium

K-State 6, Iowa State 1

Singles Competition
1. Anna Supapitch Kuearum (ISU) def. #58 Vanesa Suarez (KSU) 6-2, 7-5
2. Veronika Kulhava (KSU) def. Isabella Dunlap (ISU) 6-1, 7-5
3. Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Ashlee Narker (ISU) 6-1, 6-4
4. Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Valeska San Martin (ISU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Gala Arangio (ISU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. No player (ISU), by forfeit

Doubles Competition
1. Veronika Kulhava/Tereza Polakova (KSU) def. Isabella Dunlap/Anna Supapitch Kuearum (ISU) 6-2
2. Jillian Harkin/Charlotte Keitel (KSU) vs. Ashlee Narker/Gala Arangio (ISU) 3-4, unfinished
3. Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Manami Ukita (KSU) def. No player/No player (ISU), by forfeit

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.

K-State Starts Conference Slate With 6-1 Win Over Iowa State

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Players Mentioned

Maralgoo Chogsomjav

Jillian Harkin

Charlotte Keitel

Veronika Kulhava

Tereza Polakova

Vanesa Suarez

Manami Ukita