MANHATTAN, Kan. The Kansas State women’s tennis team won its fourth straight season-opener on Saturday night, defeating Syracuse 5-2 in Ahearn Field House.

The Wildcats secured the doubles point on Saturday by winning two of the three matches. A season ago, K-State was 5-2 after winning the doubles point. Senior Olga Klimova and junior Katerina Kudlackova  defeated Christina Tan and Simone Klahorn, 8-1, in the number one position. The duo is now 2-2 on the season and are 15-13 over the last two seasons together.

In the other doubles victory, freshmen Antea Huljev and Vanessa Cottin paired up for the first time this season to defeat Ashley Spicer and Jacquelynn Tang, 8-2, in the third position.

Kansas State secured the match after the first three singles matches. Senior Viviana Yrureta led the charge by setting down Tan in the number one position, 6-3, 6-4. The product of Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela is now 7-6 on the season and put an end to a three-match losing streak.

In the second-seed and third-seed singles matches, Cottin came back from a first set loss to defeat Kalhorn, 0-6, 6-0, 6-2. This was the first singles victory for Cottin in a K-State uniform.

Kudlackova also recovered from a first set loss to defeat Maria Vasilyeva, 2-6, 6-0, 6-4. The win for Kudlackova ended a five-match losing streak.

Also winning a singles match on Saturday night was sophomore Natasha Vieira. The native of Carabobo, Venezuela, defeated Tang in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

Kansas State will return to action February 9 at noon against Saint Louis. The dual match will be played in Ahearn Field House and admission is free to the public.

Kansas State vs. Syracuse

February 2, 2008

Final Results

Kansas State 5, Syracuse 2

Doubles

1. Katerina Kudlackova/Olga Klimova (KSU) def. Christina Tan/Simone Klahorn (SU), 8-1
2. Maria Vasilyeva/Chelsea Jones (SU) def. Viviana Yrureta/Natasha Vieira (KSU), 8-5
3. Antea Huljev/Vanessa Cottin (KSU) def. Ashley Spicer/Jacquelynn Tang (SU), 8-2

Singles

1. Viviana Yrureta (KSU) def. Christina Tan (SU), 6-3, 6-4
2. Vanessa Cottin (KSU) def. Simone Kalhorn (SU), 0-6, 6-0, 6-2
3. Katerina Kudlackova (KSU) def. Maria Vasilyeva (SU), 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
4. Ashley Spicer (SU) def. Antea Huljev (KSU), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
5. Natasha Vieira (KSU) def. Jacquelynn Tang (SU), 6-3, 6-4
   6. Chelsea Jones (SU) def. Pauline Guemas (KSU), 6-0, 6-3