May 10, 2003

EVANSTON, Ill. - It's took seven years, but No. 3 seed in the regional and 45th-ranked Kansas State (14-7) won its second NCAA team match in school history when it upset No. 2 seed and 16th-ranked Northwestern (19-9), 4-1, Saturday in the regionals of the 2003 NCAA Division I Team Tennis Tournament at Vandy Christie and Combe Tennis Centers on Northwestern Universitiy's campus.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 14-7 overall and tie the school record for most victories in a single season. The 2002-03 squad tries to become the first K-State team to win 15 matches in a season when it plays the 16th overall seed in the tournament and ninth-ranked Virginia Commonwealth Sunday at noon in the regional finals at the Vandy Christie Tennis Center. VCU defeated Illinois State, 4-0, in the second match Saturday.

"It feels great," head coach Steve Bietau said. "I was the most happy about how the kids just fought in the singles. We haven't lost the doubles point and come back with that kind of response from the singles against a good team this year."

Saturday's win was just K-State's second NCAA win as a team in school history. The Wildcats beat Utah, 5-0, in 1996 to record the only other NCAA victory. The win over Northwestern was also a first for K-State. The 'Cats were 0-3 vs. NU and 0-2 in Evanston entering the match.

Senior Petra Sedlmajerova cliniched the match for K-State when she defeated 75th-ranked Jessica Rush, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1. After losing the first set, the Wildcat right-hander jumped out to a 3-0 lead and then a 4-1 lead in the second set before tying the match one set apiece. Sedlmajerova then won five straight points in the third set before dropping a game. On her final game, the four-year letterwinner said she was confident that her experience would help her out.

"At 5-0, 40, I knew I had enough experience that I wouldn't blow the set," Sedlmajerova said. "I took too much risk and lost the game. I really didn't get nervous (in the next game), but I glad its over."

Trailing 1-0 after the doubles point, Kansas State tied the match when freshman Jessica Simosa beat Andrea Yung, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3. Simosa fell behind 3-0 in the first set but took six of the last seven games to win the set and put her ahead for good.

Andrea Cooper gave Kansas State a 2-1 lead with a win at No. 5. After falling behind a break in the second set to Kristi Roemer, Cooper forced a tiebreaker and prevailed for a 6-1, 7-6 (3) win.

Junior Hayley McIver had another came-from-behind win at No. 4. The left-hander trailed 5-0 in the first set, but then won the next seven games to take a one-set lead. McIver used the momentum in the second set, winning by the same 7-5 margin, to get the win over Stacy Kokx.

In doubles, Kansas State led in two of the three matches before a 58 minute delay to switch from the Vandy Christi outdoor courts to the Combe indoor courts. The Wildcats No. 1 doubles team of Petra Sedlamjerova and Paulina Castilljes were up 2-0, No. 2 doubles of Andrea Cooper and Hayley McIver were tied at 1-1 and Maria Rosenberg and Jessica Simosa led 2-1 at No. 3.

The Wildcats lost 8-4 at No. 3 doubles to Jamie Peisel and Kokx. At No. 2, Cooper and McIver fell 8-6 to Connie Chiang and Andrea Yung. The No. 1 doubles did not finish.

(45) Kansas State 4 vs. (16) Northwestsern 1
Vandy Christie Tennis Center, Evanston, Ill.
NCAA Regional
KSU 14-7 NU 19-9

Singles
1. Petra Sedlmajerova, KS def. Jessica Rush, NU 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
2. Maria Rosenberg, KS vs. Jamie Peisel, NU DNF
3. Jessica Simosa, KS def. Andrea Yung, NU 6-4, 6-1
4. Hayley McIver, KS def. Stacy Kokx, NU 7-5, 7-5
5. Andrea Cooper, KS def. Kristi Roemer, NU 6-1, 7-6 (3)
6. Paulina Castillejos, KS vs. Connie Chiang, NU DNF

Doubles
1. Sedlmajerova/Castillejos, KS vs. Rush/Roemer, NU DNF
2. Chiang/Yung, NU def. McIver/Cooper, KS 8-6
3. Peisel/Kokx, NU def. Simosa/Rosenberg, KS 8-4