Friday, February 27
Manhattan, Kan.
4 p.m.
Kansas State University
2
vs
4
Cincinnati
K-State Drops Conference Opener to Cincinnati, 4-2
Feb 27, 2026 | Tennis
The Cats wrap up a five-match home stand on March 1 against West Virginia
MANHATTAN, Kan.- The K-State women's tennis team started Big 12 conference play on Friday (February 27) against Cincinnati, suffering a 4-2 loss at Mike Goss Tennis Stadium after tiebreaker sets and three-set matches in singles play.
K-State (3-4, 0-1 Big 12) dropped the doubles point for the first time in two weeks after reaching tiebreakers on two courts against Cincinnati (6-2, 1-0 Big 12) before battling into multiple three-set matches in singles play where the Bearcats took the advantage.
The Cats' #55 ranked duo, junior Maralgoo Chogsomjav and freshman Martaa Chogsomjav, won their third consecutive match, sweeping Anastasija Arsic and Rozalia Gruszczynska 6-0 on the no. 1 court.
The two remaining K-State pairs battled into tiebreakers but fell short in both. In the no. 2 spot, freshmen Varvara Bernovich and Diana Smolinska did not back down to Gabrielle Guenther and Tara Kurepa but ultimately finished 6-7 (5-7). Playing in the no. 3 position, freshman Sasha Kyselova and sophomore Chanel Rustemova, reached a tiebreaker against Milica Popovski and Sakurako Watanabe but could not collect another point at 6-7 (0-6).
The Chogsomjav sisters secured the only singles wins on the first two courts. Maralgoo swept Guenther in the no. 1 spot at 6-3, 6-2, her first win in straight sets since the first match of the spring on January 30 against Clemson.
Martaa won a third consecutive singles match, going into three sets against Gruszczynska in the no. 2 position. She swept the first set leaving her opponent scoreless before coming up short in the next. Martaa regained her composure to secure the win in the last set at 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.
The four remaining courts also went into three sets but after securing the first set on three of them the Cats could not finish in their favor.
Kyelova claimed the first set at 6-4 over Watanabe in the no. 3 spot but dropped the next two sets in similar fashion to fall 6-4, 1-6, 1-6. Similarly, in the no. 5 spot, Bernovich secured the first set at 6-4 over Kurepa but her efforts in the second at 3-6 weren't enough as she fell 6-4, 3-6, 1-6.
Smolinska had a high scoring set against Arsic in the no. 4 position, falling just shy at 5-7 in the first set. She bounced back in the next set at 6-4 but in the final set she fell in similar fashion with a 5-7, 6-4, 4-6 final score.
One court went unfinished, Rustemova versus Popovski in the no. 6 spot. Rustemova encountered a first set tiebreaker and continued to take charge leaving her opponent scoreless at 7-6 (7-0). She fell short in the second set before stoppage in the third set at 7-6 (7-0), 4-6, 1-3.
The Wildcats finish a five-match home stand on Sunday (March 1) against West Virginia (6-2, 0-1 Big 12) at 12 p.m. at Peakform Sports and Wellness Center.
Cincinnati vs K-State
Mike Goss Tennis Stadium
Manhattan, Kan.
Cincinnati 4, K-State 2
Singles Competition
1. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Gabrielle Guenther (UC) 6-3, 6-2
2. Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Rozalia Gruszczynska (UC) 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
3. Sakurako Watanabe (UC) def. Sasha Kyselova (KSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
4. Anastasija Arsic (UC) def. Diana Smolinska (KSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
5. Tara Kurepa (UC) def. Varvara Bernovich (KSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
6. Chanel Rustemova (KSU) vs. Milica Popovski (UC) 7-6 (7-0), 4-6, 1-3, unfinished
Doubles Competition
1. #55 Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Anastasija Arsic/Rozalia Gruszczynska (UC) 6-0
2. Gabrielle Guenther/Tara Kurepa (UC) def. Varvara Bernovich/Diana Smolinska (KSU) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Milica Popovski/Sakurako Watanabe (UC) def. Sasha Kyselova/Chanel Rustemova (KSU) 7-6 (6-0)
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.
K-State (3-4, 0-1 Big 12) dropped the doubles point for the first time in two weeks after reaching tiebreakers on two courts against Cincinnati (6-2, 1-0 Big 12) before battling into multiple three-set matches in singles play where the Bearcats took the advantage.
The Cats' #55 ranked duo, junior Maralgoo Chogsomjav and freshman Martaa Chogsomjav, won their third consecutive match, sweeping Anastasija Arsic and Rozalia Gruszczynska 6-0 on the no. 1 court.
The two remaining K-State pairs battled into tiebreakers but fell short in both. In the no. 2 spot, freshmen Varvara Bernovich and Diana Smolinska did not back down to Gabrielle Guenther and Tara Kurepa but ultimately finished 6-7 (5-7). Playing in the no. 3 position, freshman Sasha Kyselova and sophomore Chanel Rustemova, reached a tiebreaker against Milica Popovski and Sakurako Watanabe but could not collect another point at 6-7 (0-6).
The Chogsomjav sisters secured the only singles wins on the first two courts. Maralgoo swept Guenther in the no. 1 spot at 6-3, 6-2, her first win in straight sets since the first match of the spring on January 30 against Clemson.
Martaa won a third consecutive singles match, going into three sets against Gruszczynska in the no. 2 position. She swept the first set leaving her opponent scoreless before coming up short in the next. Martaa regained her composure to secure the win in the last set at 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.
The four remaining courts also went into three sets but after securing the first set on three of them the Cats could not finish in their favor.
Kyelova claimed the first set at 6-4 over Watanabe in the no. 3 spot but dropped the next two sets in similar fashion to fall 6-4, 1-6, 1-6. Similarly, in the no. 5 spot, Bernovich secured the first set at 6-4 over Kurepa but her efforts in the second at 3-6 weren't enough as she fell 6-4, 3-6, 1-6.
Smolinska had a high scoring set against Arsic in the no. 4 position, falling just shy at 5-7 in the first set. She bounced back in the next set at 6-4 but in the final set she fell in similar fashion with a 5-7, 6-4, 4-6 final score.
One court went unfinished, Rustemova versus Popovski in the no. 6 spot. Rustemova encountered a first set tiebreaker and continued to take charge leaving her opponent scoreless at 7-6 (7-0). She fell short in the second set before stoppage in the third set at 7-6 (7-0), 4-6, 1-3.
The Wildcats finish a five-match home stand on Sunday (March 1) against West Virginia (6-2, 0-1 Big 12) at 12 p.m. at Peakform Sports and Wellness Center.
Cincinnati vs K-State
Mike Goss Tennis Stadium
Manhattan, Kan.
Cincinnati 4, K-State 2
Singles Competition
1. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Gabrielle Guenther (UC) 6-3, 6-2
2. Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Rozalia Gruszczynska (UC) 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
3. Sakurako Watanabe (UC) def. Sasha Kyselova (KSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
4. Anastasija Arsic (UC) def. Diana Smolinska (KSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
5. Tara Kurepa (UC) def. Varvara Bernovich (KSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
6. Chanel Rustemova (KSU) vs. Milica Popovski (UC) 7-6 (7-0), 4-6, 1-3, unfinished
Doubles Competition
1. #55 Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Anastasija Arsic/Rozalia Gruszczynska (UC) 6-0
2. Gabrielle Guenther/Tara Kurepa (UC) def. Varvara Bernovich/Diana Smolinska (KSU) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Milica Popovski/Sakurako Watanabe (UC) def. Sasha Kyselova/Chanel Rustemova (KSU) 7-6 (6-0)
-- 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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