Wednesday, May 6
Rome, Ga.
8 a.m. CT
Kansas State University
3
vs
4
North Alabama
K-State Falls to North Alabama in NIT Championship Semifinals
May 06, 2026 | Tennis
The Wildcats fought in a close match to the Lions splitting the singles matches
ROME, Ga.- The K-State women's tennis team suffered a tough loss on Wednesday (May 6) with a close 4-3 match to North Alabama in the semifinal round of the UTR Sports NIT Championship at the Rome Tennis Center.
#1 K-State (9-14) split the six courts in singles play against #4 North Alabama (17-6) but after falling short again in doubles, that point became the deciding factor between the Wildcats and Lions. UNA will play for the Championship against either #3 Arkansas State or #7 Charleston.
"Tough one today to come up short," head coach Jordan Smith said. "Despite being shorthanded, I'm really proud of our ladies for giving their all. It's been a while since we've competed in May, but I know we'll be back at it with a higher-level next year at Regionals."
Junior Maralgoo Chogsomjav and freshman Martaa Chogsomjav struggled to gain momentum on the no. 1 court putting up just one point against Louise Booker and Eeva Ristola at 1-6. Freshmen Mallory Renfro and Diana Smolinska put up some more resistance versus Farah Asaad and Sammie Schouten with a 2-6 score in the no. 3 spot.
Freshman Varvara Bernovich and sophomore Chanel Rustemova were up 4-3 in the no. 2 position over Emma Ansorge and Mathilde Delaney when the match was stopped.
For the second day in a row, Smolinska quickly secured the first point for the Cats while facing Schouten on the no. 4 court, where the two went back and forth in favor of Smolinska at 6-4, 6-3.
The Chogsomjav sisters also succeeded in singles play for consecutive matches. Martaa faced Delaney in the no. 3 spot where she won the gave up an extra point in the second set but maintained her lead at 6-3, 6-4. She finished the year with 20 singles victories, a team high.
Maralgoo faced Ristola again in the no. 1 position as she managed to hold on to the lead in both sets for a 6-4, 6-4 final. She ended the season with 13 straight sets wins, a career high.
Bernovich started off strong on the no. 2 court with a 3-0 lead but gave up four straight points to Ansorge. To start the next, set she couldn't regain her footing allowing her opponent a three-point lead, eventually falling 4-6, 2-6.
Rustemova was back in the no. 5 spot where she had a slow start versus Booker. Unable to score a point in the first set, she couldn't gain any traction after one point early in the next, for a 0-6, 1-6 score.
In a consecutive match, freshman Addison Renfro competed in the no. 6 position where could not put up any points while playing Senem Ocal for a 0-6, 0-6 final.
K-State ends the 2026 season with a record of 9-14, 3-10 Big 12, the third highest wins in the last six seasons, including in conference play.
North Alabama vs K-State
Rome Tennis Center
Rome, Ga.
(4) North Alabama 4, (1) K-State 3
Singles Competition
1. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Eeva Ristola (UNA) 6-4, 6-4
2. Emma Ansorge (UNA) def. Varvara Bernovich (KSU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Mathilde Delaney (UNA) 6-3, 6-4
4. Diana Smolinska (KSU) def. Sammie Schouten (UNA) 6-4, 6-3
5. Louise Booker (UNA) def. Chanel Rustemova (KSU) 6-0 6-1
6. Senem Ocal (UNA) def. Addison Renfro (KSU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles Competition
1. Louise Booker/Eeva Ristola (UNA) def. Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) 6-1
2. Varvara Bernovich/Chanel Rustemova (KSU) vs. Emma Ansorge/Mathilde Delaney (UNA) 4-3, unfinished
3. Farah Asaad/Sammie Schouten (UNA) def. Mallory Renfro/Diana Smolinska (KSU) 6-2
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.
#1 K-State (9-14) split the six courts in singles play against #4 North Alabama (17-6) but after falling short again in doubles, that point became the deciding factor between the Wildcats and Lions. UNA will play for the Championship against either #3 Arkansas State or #7 Charleston.
"Tough one today to come up short," head coach Jordan Smith said. "Despite being shorthanded, I'm really proud of our ladies for giving their all. It's been a while since we've competed in May, but I know we'll be back at it with a higher-level next year at Regionals."
Junior Maralgoo Chogsomjav and freshman Martaa Chogsomjav struggled to gain momentum on the no. 1 court putting up just one point against Louise Booker and Eeva Ristola at 1-6. Freshmen Mallory Renfro and Diana Smolinska put up some more resistance versus Farah Asaad and Sammie Schouten with a 2-6 score in the no. 3 spot.
Freshman Varvara Bernovich and sophomore Chanel Rustemova were up 4-3 in the no. 2 position over Emma Ansorge and Mathilde Delaney when the match was stopped.
For the second day in a row, Smolinska quickly secured the first point for the Cats while facing Schouten on the no. 4 court, where the two went back and forth in favor of Smolinska at 6-4, 6-3.
The Chogsomjav sisters also succeeded in singles play for consecutive matches. Martaa faced Delaney in the no. 3 spot where she won the gave up an extra point in the second set but maintained her lead at 6-3, 6-4. She finished the year with 20 singles victories, a team high.
Maralgoo faced Ristola again in the no. 1 position as she managed to hold on to the lead in both sets for a 6-4, 6-4 final. She ended the season with 13 straight sets wins, a career high.
Bernovich started off strong on the no. 2 court with a 3-0 lead but gave up four straight points to Ansorge. To start the next, set she couldn't regain her footing allowing her opponent a three-point lead, eventually falling 4-6, 2-6.
Rustemova was back in the no. 5 spot where she had a slow start versus Booker. Unable to score a point in the first set, she couldn't gain any traction after one point early in the next, for a 0-6, 1-6 score.
In a consecutive match, freshman Addison Renfro competed in the no. 6 position where could not put up any points while playing Senem Ocal for a 0-6, 0-6 final.
K-State ends the 2026 season with a record of 9-14, 3-10 Big 12, the third highest wins in the last six seasons, including in conference play.
North Alabama vs K-State
Rome Tennis Center
Rome, Ga.
(4) North Alabama 4, (1) K-State 3
Singles Competition
1. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Eeva Ristola (UNA) 6-4, 6-4
2. Emma Ansorge (UNA) def. Varvara Bernovich (KSU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Mathilde Delaney (UNA) 6-3, 6-4
4. Diana Smolinska (KSU) def. Sammie Schouten (UNA) 6-4, 6-3
5. Louise Booker (UNA) def. Chanel Rustemova (KSU) 6-0 6-1
6. Senem Ocal (UNA) def. Addison Renfro (KSU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles Competition
1. Louise Booker/Eeva Ristola (UNA) def. Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) 6-1
2. Varvara Bernovich/Chanel Rustemova (KSU) vs. Emma Ansorge/Mathilde Delaney (UNA) 4-3, unfinished
3. Farah Asaad/Sammie Schouten (UNA) def. Mallory Renfro/Diana Smolinska (KSU) 6-2
-- 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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