Kansas State University Athletics
Wildcats Find Success on Day One of K-State Invitational
Sep 20, 2024 | Tennis
The Wildcats combine for eight wins on Friday, including five singles wins over South Florida
MANHATTAN, Kan.- The K-State women's tennis team started their fall competition schedule on a strong note on Friday (Sept. 20) with a combined eight wins (five in singles and three in doubles) at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.
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The three-day tournament, which includes teams from Arkansas, Iowa State, South Florida and Wichita State, began with two sessions of doubles matches followed by two sessions of singles matches on Friday.
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Highlighting K-State's three doubles wins were two by the tandem of senior Veronika Kulhava and sophomore Maralgoo Chogsomjav. The duo started the day with a 6-1 win over South Florida's Sienna Leeson and Margherita Marcon before winning in a tiebreaker over Wichita State's Giorgia Roselli and Theodora Chantva, 7-6 (7-5).
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The duo of juniors Maria Santos and Sana Garakani picked up the other doubles win with a 6-3 victory over South Florida's Loana Gonzalez and Karine Kuligjian. Garakani and sophomore Zali Morris lost in a tiebreaker to Wichita State's Clara Whitaker and Anne Knuettel, 7-6 (10-8).
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K-State swept its five singles matches with South Florida, including straight set victories by Kulhava, Santos and Morris. Chogsomjav and Garakani both came back from first set losses to win with Chogsomjav posting a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over the Bulls' Melisa Senli and Garakani registering a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over the Bulls' Marcon.
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It was the first career action for Garakani and Morris as Wildcats, who transferred from Middle Tennessee State and Stetson in the offseason.
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Tournament play continues at 9 a.m., CT on Saturday (Sept. 21) with the first of 15 singles matches at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium with seven doubles matches to follow. If there is inclement weather, the matches will be played at both Body First Fitness Center and Genesis Fitness Center.
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Also, in action on Saturday will be sophomores Charlotte Keitel and Tereza Polakova at the International Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championship in Cary, N.C., starting on Saturday at Cary Tennis Park.
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Doubles
K-State's Veronika Kulhava/Maralgoo Chogsomjav def. USF's Sienna Leeson/Margherita Marcon, 6-1
K-State's Maria Santos/Sana Garakani def. USF's Loana Gonzalez/Karine Kuligjian, 6-3
K-State's Veronika Kulhava/Maralgoo Chogsomjav def. WSU's Giorgia Roselli/Theodora Chantva, 7-6 (7-5)
WSU's Clara Whitaker/Anne Knuettel def. K-State's Sana Garakani/Zali Morris, 7-6 (10-8)
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Singles
K-State's Maralgoo Chogsomjav def. USF's Melisa Senli, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
K-State's Sana Garakani def. USF's Margherita Marcon, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
K-State's Veronika Kulhava def. USF's Sienna Leeson, 6-1, 6-2
K-State's Maria Santos def. USF's Dharanin Niroshan, 6-3, 6-2
K-State's Zali Morris def. USF's Gargi Pawar, 6-0, 6-2
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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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The three-day tournament, which includes teams from Arkansas, Iowa State, South Florida and Wichita State, began with two sessions of doubles matches followed by two sessions of singles matches on Friday.
Â
Highlighting K-State's three doubles wins were two by the tandem of senior Veronika Kulhava and sophomore Maralgoo Chogsomjav. The duo started the day with a 6-1 win over South Florida's Sienna Leeson and Margherita Marcon before winning in a tiebreaker over Wichita State's Giorgia Roselli and Theodora Chantva, 7-6 (7-5).
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The duo of juniors Maria Santos and Sana Garakani picked up the other doubles win with a 6-3 victory over South Florida's Loana Gonzalez and Karine Kuligjian. Garakani and sophomore Zali Morris lost in a tiebreaker to Wichita State's Clara Whitaker and Anne Knuettel, 7-6 (10-8).
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K-State swept its five singles matches with South Florida, including straight set victories by Kulhava, Santos and Morris. Chogsomjav and Garakani both came back from first set losses to win with Chogsomjav posting a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over the Bulls' Melisa Senli and Garakani registering a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over the Bulls' Marcon.
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It was the first career action for Garakani and Morris as Wildcats, who transferred from Middle Tennessee State and Stetson in the offseason.
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Tournament play continues at 9 a.m., CT on Saturday (Sept. 21) with the first of 15 singles matches at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium with seven doubles matches to follow. If there is inclement weather, the matches will be played at both Body First Fitness Center and Genesis Fitness Center.
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Also, in action on Saturday will be sophomores Charlotte Keitel and Tereza Polakova at the International Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championship in Cary, N.C., starting on Saturday at Cary Tennis Park.
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Doubles
K-State's Veronika Kulhava/Maralgoo Chogsomjav def. USF's Sienna Leeson/Margherita Marcon, 6-1
K-State's Maria Santos/Sana Garakani def. USF's Loana Gonzalez/Karine Kuligjian, 6-3
K-State's Veronika Kulhava/Maralgoo Chogsomjav def. WSU's Giorgia Roselli/Theodora Chantva, 7-6 (7-5)
WSU's Clara Whitaker/Anne Knuettel def. K-State's Sana Garakani/Zali Morris, 7-6 (10-8)
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Singles
K-State's Maralgoo Chogsomjav def. USF's Melisa Senli, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
K-State's Sana Garakani def. USF's Margherita Marcon, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
K-State's Veronika Kulhava def. USF's Sienna Leeson, 6-1, 6-2
K-State's Maria Santos def. USF's Dharanin Niroshan, 6-3, 6-2
K-State's Zali Morris def. USF's Gargi Pawar, 6-0, 6-2
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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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