Balderrama, Leon Advance to Singles Main Draw on Friday
Oct 15, 2026 | Tennis
The Wildcats went 8-4 in singles matches during the day
MEMPHIS, Tenn.- The K-State women's tennis team started off day one of the ITA Central Regional Championship on Thursday (October 15) with a full day's worth of competition highlighted by two freshmen advancing to the singles main draw at the Leftwich Tennis Center.
Â
Starting off in the qualifying draw, freshmen Sabrina Balderrama and Marta Leon were both victorious through two matches in order to advance to the main draw starting on Friday (October 16) at 9 a.m, CT. Senior Maralgoo Chogsomjav and sophomore Martaa Chogsomjav will also partake in their first singles matches in the main draw.
Â
In the qualifying first round, both Balderrama and Leon encountered tiebreakers but came out victorious. Facing Millie Day from conference foe Iowa State, Balderrama won the first set only giving up two points but held on to sweep the tiebreaker at 6-2, 7-6 (7-0). Leon's first set ended similarly against Dinara De Silva from Wichita State but the two went back and forth in a high scoring tiebreaker in favor of Leon at 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).
Â
In the second round, Balderrama started off strong against Tulsa's Alice Baba only allowed one point but she dropped the second set and had to battle back for a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory. Leon secured her spot in the main draw after sweeping Nora Knezevic from Minnesota 6-4, 6-4.
Â
Sophomore Diana Smolinska also secured a first round win after battling back in three sets over Lara Margocova from Arkansas State. Smolinska only scored two points to start before taking control and leaving her opponent scoreless in the second set and securing the win at 2-6, 6-0, 6-2. In the second round she fell short in straight sets to Memphis' Natalia Koppova, 4-6, 4-6.
Â
During the day all 10 Wildcats competed to an 8-4 record in singles play and 2-3 in doubles in 8-game pro sets.
Â
Balderrama recorded her third win of the day with doubles partner sophomore Varya Bernovich. Facing the Cyclones' Gabriella Kellner and Valeska San Martin Ramirez the two encountered a high scoring match but ultimately came out on top 8-6.
Â
In their only match of the day, the Chogsomjav sisters handed Anna Grigoreva and Arun Kumar from Arkansas State a loss at 8-3.
Â
Two Wildcats fell short in the qualifying draw but bounced back in the consolation bracket with a win. Senior Margaret Jaraczewski faced Golden Gopher Jeselle Ante in her second match as she secured the first set 6-3 but dropped the next to force a match tiebreak going back and forth before a 6-3, 2-6, 10-5 victory. Bernovich swept Erin McKenzie from Tulsa in a consolation match at 6-4, 6-2.
Â
The singles main draw will commence on Friday morning starting at 9 a.m., before the doubles bracket begins in the afternoon at 2 p.m.
Â
ITA Central Regional
Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tenn.
Â
Singles Competition- Qualifying First Round
Leticia Bazan (MU) def. Margaret Jaraczewski (KSU) 6-3, 6-2
Leni Eichner (MSU) def. Lena Beuing (KSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Sabrina Balderrama (KSU) def. Millie Day (ISU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-0)
Neda Rahimkhani (NEB) def. Varya Bernovich (KSU) 6-2, 6-3
Diana Smolinska (KSU) def. Lara Margocova (ASU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-2
Marta Leon (KSU) def. Dinara De Silva (WSU) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
Â
Qualifying Second Round
Sabrina Balderrama (KSU) def. Alice Baba (TUL) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
Natalia Koppova (MEM) def. Diana Smolinska (KSU) 6-4, 6-2
Marta Leon (KSU) def. Nora Knezevic (MINN) 6-4, 6-4
Â
Consolation Bracket
Lena Beuing (KSU) def. Carolina Alonso (TUL) retired
Margaret Jaraczewski (KSU) def. Jeselle Ante (MINN) 6-3, 2-6, 10-5
Varya Bernovich (KSU) def. Erin McKenzie (TUL) 6-4, 6-2
Â
Double Competition
Alex Ackman/Mariana Higuita Barraza (MU) def. Lena Beuing/Diana Smolinska (KSU) 8-2
Irina Anghel/Danielle Chapman (MU) def. Margaret Jaraczewski/Marta Leon (KSU) 8-2
Sabrina Balderrama/Varya Bernovich (KSU) def. Gabriella Kellner/Valeska San Martin Ramirez (ISU) 8-6
Emilia Korseth/Caroline Lindahl (UST) def. Addison Renfro/Mallory Renfro (KSU) 8-1
Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Anna Grigoreva/Arun Kumar (ASU) 8-3
Â
Â
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.
Â
Starting off in the qualifying draw, freshmen Sabrina Balderrama and Marta Leon were both victorious through two matches in order to advance to the main draw starting on Friday (October 16) at 9 a.m, CT. Senior Maralgoo Chogsomjav and sophomore Martaa Chogsomjav will also partake in their first singles matches in the main draw.
Â
In the qualifying first round, both Balderrama and Leon encountered tiebreakers but came out victorious. Facing Millie Day from conference foe Iowa State, Balderrama won the first set only giving up two points but held on to sweep the tiebreaker at 6-2, 7-6 (7-0). Leon's first set ended similarly against Dinara De Silva from Wichita State but the two went back and forth in a high scoring tiebreaker in favor of Leon at 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).
Â
In the second round, Balderrama started off strong against Tulsa's Alice Baba only allowed one point but she dropped the second set and had to battle back for a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory. Leon secured her spot in the main draw after sweeping Nora Knezevic from Minnesota 6-4, 6-4.
Â
Sophomore Diana Smolinska also secured a first round win after battling back in three sets over Lara Margocova from Arkansas State. Smolinska only scored two points to start before taking control and leaving her opponent scoreless in the second set and securing the win at 2-6, 6-0, 6-2. In the second round she fell short in straight sets to Memphis' Natalia Koppova, 4-6, 4-6.
Â
During the day all 10 Wildcats competed to an 8-4 record in singles play and 2-3 in doubles in 8-game pro sets.
Â
Balderrama recorded her third win of the day with doubles partner sophomore Varya Bernovich. Facing the Cyclones' Gabriella Kellner and Valeska San Martin Ramirez the two encountered a high scoring match but ultimately came out on top 8-6.
Â
In their only match of the day, the Chogsomjav sisters handed Anna Grigoreva and Arun Kumar from Arkansas State a loss at 8-3.
Â
Two Wildcats fell short in the qualifying draw but bounced back in the consolation bracket with a win. Senior Margaret Jaraczewski faced Golden Gopher Jeselle Ante in her second match as she secured the first set 6-3 but dropped the next to force a match tiebreak going back and forth before a 6-3, 2-6, 10-5 victory. Bernovich swept Erin McKenzie from Tulsa in a consolation match at 6-4, 6-2.
Â
The singles main draw will commence on Friday morning starting at 9 a.m., before the doubles bracket begins in the afternoon at 2 p.m.
Â
ITA Central Regional
Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tenn.
Â
Singles Competition- Qualifying First Round
Leticia Bazan (MU) def. Margaret Jaraczewski (KSU) 6-3, 6-2
Leni Eichner (MSU) def. Lena Beuing (KSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Sabrina Balderrama (KSU) def. Millie Day (ISU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-0)
Neda Rahimkhani (NEB) def. Varya Bernovich (KSU) 6-2, 6-3
Diana Smolinska (KSU) def. Lara Margocova (ASU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-2
Marta Leon (KSU) def. Dinara De Silva (WSU) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
Â
Qualifying Second Round
Sabrina Balderrama (KSU) def. Alice Baba (TUL) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
Natalia Koppova (MEM) def. Diana Smolinska (KSU) 6-4, 6-2
Marta Leon (KSU) def. Nora Knezevic (MINN) 6-4, 6-4
Â
Consolation Bracket
Lena Beuing (KSU) def. Carolina Alonso (TUL) retired
Margaret Jaraczewski (KSU) def. Jeselle Ante (MINN) 6-3, 2-6, 10-5
Varya Bernovich (KSU) def. Erin McKenzie (TUL) 6-4, 6-2
Â
Double Competition
Alex Ackman/Mariana Higuita Barraza (MU) def. Lena Beuing/Diana Smolinska (KSU) 8-2
Irina Anghel/Danielle Chapman (MU) def. Margaret Jaraczewski/Marta Leon (KSU) 8-2
Sabrina Balderrama/Varya Bernovich (KSU) def. Gabriella Kellner/Valeska San Martin Ramirez (ISU) 8-6
Emilia Korseth/Caroline Lindahl (UST) def. Addison Renfro/Mallory Renfro (KSU) 8-1
Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Anna Grigoreva/Arun Kumar (ASU) 8-3
Â
Â
-- 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.
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
Thursday, August 27
Friday, May 08
Tuesday, April 14
Thursday, April 09
