May 11, 2003

EVANSTON, Ill. - Kansas State achieved what no Virginia Commonwealth opponent could do all season-victory. KSU took control early in doubles and never let go en route to a 4-2 upset against previously undefeated and ninth-ranked VCU.

The Wildcats dropped a doubles match at the No. 1 spot but took over from that point. Hayley McIver and Andrea Cooper jumped out to a 4-0 lead against the Rams' Marina Escobar Martinez and Beatriz Cabrera at No. 2, and the KSU duo prevailed 8-6. The Wildcats went up 1-0 when Maria Rosenberg and Jessica Simosa put away Cristina Gago and Ana Franco Lopez, 8-5, just minutes later.

VCU responded with back-to-back singles wins at No. 4 and No. 1, giving it a 2-1 edge. VCU's Silvia Urickova made quick work of McIver with a 6-0, 6-2 win, and Barbora Zahnova posted a 6-1, 6-1 win at the top spot to round out the Rams scoring.

Paulina Castillejos knotted the score with a win at No. 6, and Simosa gave KSU the lead for good with her win at No. 3. Cooper clinched the match for the Wildcats, dropping Gago 6-4, 6-4 at No. 5.

With the win KSU improved to 15-7, while VCU ended the season at 24-1. The Wildcats are back in action next week in the round of 16 at the NCAA Championships in Gainesville, Fla.

Singles
1. Barbora Zahnova (VCU) def. Petra Sedlmajerova (KSU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Marina Escobar Martinez (VCU) vs. Maria Rosenberg (KSU) abandoned
3. Jessica Simosa (KSU) def. Beatriz Cabrera (VCU) 6-3, 7-6
4. Silvia Urickova (VCU) def. Hayley McIver (KSU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Andrea Cooper (KSU) def. Cristina Gago (VCU) 6-4, 6-4*
6. Paulina Castillejos (KSU) def. Ana Franco Lopez (VCU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles
1. Urickova/Zahnova (VCU) def. Sedlmajerova/Castillejos (KSU) 8-2
2. McIver/Cooper (KSU) def. Martinez/Cabrera (VCU) 8-6
3. Rosenberg/Simosa (KSU) def. Gago/Lopez (VCU) 8-5