Smith Announces Assistant Coach and Roster Additions for 2024-25
Sep 05, 2024 | Tennis
Two assistant coaches and three student-athletes join the Wildcats for upcoming season
MANHATTAN, Kan.- K-State women's tennis coach Jordan Smith announced on Thursday (Sept. 5) the addition of Olga Shaw as assistant coach and three student-athletes-- Sana Garakani, Zali Morris and Zhanel Rustemova for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Shaw, nee Klimova, played for the Wildcats under K-State's longest tenured coach Steve Bietau from 2004-08. In four seasons, she recorded a 31-48 career singles mark and 50-49 in doubles play, excelling with a 20-12 doubles record in Big 12 matches. Shaw was then added to the coaching staff ahead of the 2008-09 season, assisting the Cats for five seasons.
"Incredibly excited and fortunate to have Olga returning to our tennis program," Smith said. "Having another person on staff that was a former player and coach for this program will be beneficial in more future success. Olga played at a high level for the Cats and helped bring in one of the best players in program history as an assistant. It's a great addition and our players will benefit greatly from her."
As a coach, Shaw most notably recruited Petra Niedermayerova (2010-14), who was a two-time ITA All-American and 2011 Big 12 Freshman/Player of the Year. Niedermayerova holds multiple K-State records, including the most career singles (105) and doubles (74) wins. She was the 2011 Big 12 singles champion in the no. 1 spot and in 2013 was the doubles champion at no.1 with Karla Bonacic.
Shaw joins fellow assistant coach Maria Linares in their first season back with the team.
Garakani is a junior transfer from Middle Tennesse, originally from Lisbon, Portugal. During her two seasons as a Blue Raider, she accumulated a 22-17 spring singles record, in the no. 1 and 2 spot, and a 15-21 doubles record.
During her sophomore season in November 2023, Garakani was named CUSA Athlete of the Month with six singles and four doubles wins in the fall. As a freshman, Garakani tied for the most match clinches during the season with four.
Morris spent last season at Stetson University as a freshman. Originally from Beaumaris, Australia, Morris was part of the Hatters team that claimed the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship in the spring. She ended the season with a 13-6 singles record, 7-1 in conference, and a 9-6 doubles record.
Rustemova, hailing from Astana, Kazakhstan, will join the Cats as a freshman. Since March, she has competed in nine ITF World Tennis Tours, accumulating a 9-10 singles record and 12-8 in doubles play.
"Really happy with the three ladies that we were able to bring in this fall. We wanted to build on the success we had with our young group last season," Smith said. "I believe our two transfers and freshman were exactly what we needed to achieve our off season goals. It also helps that these three are great people as well as tennis players. They'll fit right in with our team!"
The Wildcats return senior Veronika Kulhava, junior Maria Santos and sophomores Maralgoo Chogsomjav, Charlotte Keitel and Tereza Polakova.
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.
Shaw, nee Klimova, played for the Wildcats under K-State's longest tenured coach Steve Bietau from 2004-08. In four seasons, she recorded a 31-48 career singles mark and 50-49 in doubles play, excelling with a 20-12 doubles record in Big 12 matches. Shaw was then added to the coaching staff ahead of the 2008-09 season, assisting the Cats for five seasons.
"Incredibly excited and fortunate to have Olga returning to our tennis program," Smith said. "Having another person on staff that was a former player and coach for this program will be beneficial in more future success. Olga played at a high level for the Cats and helped bring in one of the best players in program history as an assistant. It's a great addition and our players will benefit greatly from her."
As a coach, Shaw most notably recruited Petra Niedermayerova (2010-14), who was a two-time ITA All-American and 2011 Big 12 Freshman/Player of the Year. Niedermayerova holds multiple K-State records, including the most career singles (105) and doubles (74) wins. She was the 2011 Big 12 singles champion in the no. 1 spot and in 2013 was the doubles champion at no.1 with Karla Bonacic.
Shaw joins fellow assistant coach Maria Linares in their first season back with the team.
Garakani is a junior transfer from Middle Tennesse, originally from Lisbon, Portugal. During her two seasons as a Blue Raider, she accumulated a 22-17 spring singles record, in the no. 1 and 2 spot, and a 15-21 doubles record.
During her sophomore season in November 2023, Garakani was named CUSA Athlete of the Month with six singles and four doubles wins in the fall. As a freshman, Garakani tied for the most match clinches during the season with four.
Morris spent last season at Stetson University as a freshman. Originally from Beaumaris, Australia, Morris was part of the Hatters team that claimed the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship in the spring. She ended the season with a 13-6 singles record, 7-1 in conference, and a 9-6 doubles record.
Rustemova, hailing from Astana, Kazakhstan, will join the Cats as a freshman. Since March, she has competed in nine ITF World Tennis Tours, accumulating a 9-10 singles record and 12-8 in doubles play.
"Really happy with the three ladies that we were able to bring in this fall. We wanted to build on the success we had with our young group last season," Smith said. "I believe our two transfers and freshman were exactly what we needed to achieve our off season goals. It also helps that these three are great people as well as tennis players. They'll fit right in with our team!"
The Wildcats return senior Veronika Kulhava, junior Maria Santos and sophomores Maralgoo Chogsomjav, Charlotte Keitel and Tereza Polakova.
--www.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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