Leon Advances to Singles Quarterfinal Round, Qualifies for ITA Central Sectional
Oct 17, 2026 | Tennis
The freshman from Spain won two matches during the day, the Wildcats 19-11 over three days
MEMPHIS, Tenn.- Freshman Marta Leon highlighted K-State's third day of competition on Saturday (October 17) in the ITA Central Regional Championship as she recorded more singles wins at the Leftwich Tennis Center. Leon swept consecutive opponents in the second round and round of 16 to qualify her for the ITA Central Sectionals set for November 5-8 in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Leon, from Balearic Island, Spain, started the day with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Arkansas State's Sara Kastakova before allowing just one point a set in the round of 16 against Kansas City's Flavia Monteverde in a 6-1, 6-1 victory.
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The quarterfinal round will take place Sunday (October 18) at 9 a.m. CT, as Leon will face Xin Tong Wang from Wichita State.
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K-State competed in just one doubles match as freshman Sabrina Balderrama and sophomore Varya Bernovich battled in the quarterfinal round. The duo fought in a close match against Kansas' Nahyeong Cho and Meg McCarthy but fell just shy of advancing to the semifinals with a 6-8 score.
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Two more women battled in the second round of the main draw, Balderrama and senior Maralgoo Chogsomjav. Chogsomjav fought in a high scoring first set versus Zoie Epps from Oklahoma but started to lose steam, falling 5-7, 0-6. While facing Iowa's Emma Tothova, Balderrama could not string together enough points in her favor, losing 3-6, 2-6.
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After a loss in the singles main round on Friday, sophomore Martaa Chogsomjav competed in the consolation bracket, coming out on top versus Alicia Mall from Memphis with a first set tiebreaker before sweeping the second set at 7-6 (7-2), 6-0.
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Sophomore Diana Smolinska and senior Margaret Jaraczewski were once again successful in extra matches, bring K-State's total record in singles matches over three days to 19-11. Smolinska swept Lily Olson from Saint Thomas after allowing less points scored in the second set, 6-4, 6-2.
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Jaraczewski has gone 3-0 in three-set matches during the tournament after facing Minnesota's Nora Knezevic. The native of Argyle, Texas, dropped another second set but continued to clinch the match tiebreak, this time in a high scoring 6-4, 2-6, 10-8 final.
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Along with the singles quarterfinal match, day four in Memphis will also feature more extra singles matches.
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ITA Central Regional
Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tenn.
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Singles Competition- Main Draw Second Round
Marta Leon (KSU) def. Sara Kastakova (ASU) 6-3, 6-1
Zoie Epps (OU) def. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) 7-5, 6-0
Emma Tothova (IOWA) def. Sabrina Balderrama (KSU) 6-3, 6-2
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Round of 16
Marta Leon (KSU) def. Flavia Monteverde (UMKC) 6-1, 6-1
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Consolation Bracket
Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Alicia Mall (MEM) 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
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Extra Matches
Diana Smolinska (KSU) def. Lily Olson (UST) 6-4, 6-2
Shuqian Xu (IOWA) def. Lena Beuing (KSU) 6-3, 6-0
Margaret Jaraczewski (KSU) def. Nora Knezevic (MINN) 6-4, 2-6, 10-8
Iris Alvarez Fernandez (MSU) def. Mallory Renfro (KSU) 6-0, 6-0
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Doubles Competition- Quarterfinals
Nahyeong Cho/Meg McCarthy (KU) def. Sabrina Balderrama/Varya Bernovich (KSU) 8-6
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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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Leon, from Balearic Island, Spain, started the day with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Arkansas State's Sara Kastakova before allowing just one point a set in the round of 16 against Kansas City's Flavia Monteverde in a 6-1, 6-1 victory.
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The quarterfinal round will take place Sunday (October 18) at 9 a.m. CT, as Leon will face Xin Tong Wang from Wichita State.
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K-State competed in just one doubles match as freshman Sabrina Balderrama and sophomore Varya Bernovich battled in the quarterfinal round. The duo fought in a close match against Kansas' Nahyeong Cho and Meg McCarthy but fell just shy of advancing to the semifinals with a 6-8 score.
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Two more women battled in the second round of the main draw, Balderrama and senior Maralgoo Chogsomjav. Chogsomjav fought in a high scoring first set versus Zoie Epps from Oklahoma but started to lose steam, falling 5-7, 0-6. While facing Iowa's Emma Tothova, Balderrama could not string together enough points in her favor, losing 3-6, 2-6.
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After a loss in the singles main round on Friday, sophomore Martaa Chogsomjav competed in the consolation bracket, coming out on top versus Alicia Mall from Memphis with a first set tiebreaker before sweeping the second set at 7-6 (7-2), 6-0.
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Sophomore Diana Smolinska and senior Margaret Jaraczewski were once again successful in extra matches, bring K-State's total record in singles matches over three days to 19-11. Smolinska swept Lily Olson from Saint Thomas after allowing less points scored in the second set, 6-4, 6-2.
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Jaraczewski has gone 3-0 in three-set matches during the tournament after facing Minnesota's Nora Knezevic. The native of Argyle, Texas, dropped another second set but continued to clinch the match tiebreak, this time in a high scoring 6-4, 2-6, 10-8 final.
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Along with the singles quarterfinal match, day four in Memphis will also feature more extra singles matches.
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ITA Central Regional
Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tenn.
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Singles Competition- Main Draw Second Round
Marta Leon (KSU) def. Sara Kastakova (ASU) 6-3, 6-1
Zoie Epps (OU) def. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) 7-5, 6-0
Emma Tothova (IOWA) def. Sabrina Balderrama (KSU) 6-3, 6-2
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Round of 16
Marta Leon (KSU) def. Flavia Monteverde (UMKC) 6-1, 6-1
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Consolation Bracket
Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Alicia Mall (MEM) 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
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Extra Matches
Diana Smolinska (KSU) def. Lily Olson (UST) 6-4, 6-2
Shuqian Xu (IOWA) def. Lena Beuing (KSU) 6-3, 6-0
Margaret Jaraczewski (KSU) def. Nora Knezevic (MINN) 6-4, 2-6, 10-8
Iris Alvarez Fernandez (MSU) def. Mallory Renfro (KSU) 6-0, 6-0
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Doubles Competition- Quarterfinals
Nahyeong Cho/Meg McCarthy (KU) def. Sabrina Balderrama/Varya Bernovich (KSU) 8-6
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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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