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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Cincinnati vs K-State
Mike Goss Tennis Stadium
Manhattan, Kan.
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Cincinnati 4, K-State 2
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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
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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)
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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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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Cincinnati vs K-State
Mike Goss Tennis Stadium
Manhattan, Kan.
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Cincinnati 4, K-State 2
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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
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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)
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-- 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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