K-State Women’s Tennis Triumphs in Thrilling Big 12 Championship Opener
WACO, Texas – The Kansas State University women’s tennis team kicked off the Big 12 Championship with a heart-stopping 4-3 victory over West Virginia on April 16 at the Hurd Tennis Center. This hard-fought match showcases the resilience and tenacity of the #62 ranked Wildcats (10-11, 7-7 Big 12) as they overcome the challenge posed by the Mountaineers (8-17, 2-12 Big 12), who entered the tournament as the 15-seed.
Securing the Opening Doubles Point
K-State capitalized on their momentum by winning the doubles point for the seventh time this season. The dynamic duo of Charlotte Keitel and Maralgoo Chogsomjav displayed exceptional teamwork, triumphing over Julie Bousseau and Mille Haagensen with a swift 6-2 victory at the no. 1 position. Meanwhile, senior Veronika Kulhava and sophomore Tereza Polakova clinched the doubles point by defeating Lyla Byers and Tatiana Lipatova 6-3 in no. 3 doubles.
Although juniors Sana Garakani and Maria Santos fell short in the no. 2 spot (2-6), their effort contributed to a strong start for the Wildcats.
Singles Showdown: A Nail-Biting Contest
The singles matches unfolded in true dramatic fashion, ending in a split of 3-3. Charlotte Keitel faced a daunting challenge in her matchup against Mille Haagensen. After an impressive opening set, Keitel faced a setback in the second but rallied back in the final set, sealing her victory with a scoreline of 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.
Chogsomjav showcased her prowess by earning her 30th singles win and third career victory in the no. 1 spot, decisively outmatching Bousseau 6-2, 6-4. Following suit, Kulhava swept her opponent, Lyla Byers, in a commanding performance, winning 6-0, 6-4.
However, not all was smooth sailing for the Wildcats. Santos and Polakova met tough opponents, falling to Michaela Kucharova (0-6, 2-6) and Laura V. Morillo (0-6, 3-6), respectively. Garakani, competing in the no. 6 position, struggled against Lipatova, losing 1-6, 1-6.
Next Up: A Clash with BYU
With this thrilling victory, Kansas State advances to the second round of the Big 12 Championship, where they will face the #7 seed BYU Cougars (17-9, 7-6 Big 12) on April 17 at 7 p.m. CT. The match promises to be an exciting rematch; the two teams last faced off just two weeks prior when K-State edged BYU in a closely contested 4-3 match.
Coach’s Corner
Head Coach Jordan Smith expressed his thoughts after the match, stating, "Glad we got that one tonight. This league is so tough, and we knew tonight would be a battle. [West Virginia] has gotten a lot better, and they made us earn it tonight. Obviously, the doubles point really helped us. We need to get back to our standard tomorrow if we want to give ourselves the best chance at success."
Match Summary
Scores:
Doubles Competition
- Chogsomjav/Keitel (KSU) def. Bousseau/Haagensen (WVU) 6-2
- Kucharova/Morillo (WVU) def. Garakani/Santos (KSU) 6-2
- Kulhava/Polakova (KSU) def. Byers/Lipatova (WVU) 6-3
- Singles Competition
- Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Bousseau (WVU) 6-2, 6-4
- Keitel (KSU) def. Haagensen (WVU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
- Kucharova (WVU) def. Santos (KSU) 6-0, 6-2
- Kulhava (KSU) def. Byers (WVU) 6-0, 6-4
- Morillo (WVU) def. Polakova (KSU) 6-0, 6-3
- Lipatova (WVU) def. Garakani (KSU) 6-1, 6-1
Follow the Wildcats!
For more updates on the K-State Women’s Tennis Team, visit K-State Sports and follow the team on social media: X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook. Don’t miss their next electrifying performance as they aim for victory against BYU!
