MANHATTAN, Kan. - The University of Kansas women’s tennis team pulled an upset Wednesday afternoon at Washburn Tennis Facility, beating No. 74 Kansas State, 5-2.

With Wednesday’s win, the Jayhawks improved their overall record to 3-8 on the season and 2-1 in the Big 12. Meanwhile, K-State fell to 3-6 overall and 0-4 in Big 12 play.

The Jayhawks claimed the doubles point early in the match, as the duo of Courtney Steinbock and Kristen Steinbock defeated Maria Rosenberg and Paulina Castillejos, 8-3. The Wildcat duo fell to 7-2 in the spring season at the No. 1 position. Meanwhile, Jessica Simosa and Judith Diaz teamed up to claim the sole Wildcat victory of the day, as they pulled out an 8-3 win over KU’s Emily Haylock and Ashley Filberth. The K-State pair improved to 5-4 on the season. A new face entered the K-State lineup, as Emily Mickelson teamed up with Hayley McIver to make her Wildcat debut at doubles. But, Christine Skoda and Brittany Brown wrapped up the doubles point for the Jayhawks with an 8-3 victory.

Playing at the No. 1 position, Maria Rosenberg picked up one of only two Wildcat victories for the day, as she dominated Steinbock of KU, 6-0, 7-5. Rosenberg leads the team in singles victories, with a 7-2 spring record, and stands 17-8 overall. Junior Judith Diaz secured the other singles win, defeating Jayhawk Luiza Loureiro 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Paulina Castillejos fell victim to the play of Christine Skoda, and although she fought hard for the win, the victory slipped away in the third set, where the final score ended up at 7-5, 6-7, (7-5), 6-1. Kansas now owns a 47-5 lead in the overall series between the two schools.

“We fought back really well, but the hole was too deep today and we had too many spots where we didn’t play well,” Kansas State head coach Steve Bietau said. “We got some help from our No. 2 doubles team win and it was good to see Judith (Diaz) win in singles. It’s a tough match to lose. But Maria (Rosenberg) was very sharp in the beginning, and although she had some struggles in the second set, she came back and closed it up. She played awfully well, and she has a good thing going in singles right now.”

Next up for the Wildcats is a trip out west to Fresno, Calif., where the women will play a grueling schedule in the span of four days. They will take on the likes of No. 14 Fresno State on March 23, No. 23 Oregon on March 22 and UC Santa Barbara on March 25. The K-State women will be up against stiff competition, as Fresno State boasts No. 18-ranked freshman Jelena Pandzic, who is 10-0 on the season in singles play.

“The season is going to get much tougher,” Bietau said. “The level of competition is going to really jump up, and we will have to find ways to play better, and keep trying to compete. We will have to find a way to make something positive happen. Maria will get the shot at playing some people who will help her for nationals, but she will have to lift her game a bit if she wants to keep winning.”

Kansas 5, (74) Kansas State 2

March 17, 2004

Washburn Tennis Facility

Manhattan, Kan.

 

SINGLES

No. 1 Maria Rosenberg (KSU) def. Courtney Steinbock (KU), 6-0, 7-5.

No. 2 Emily Haylock (KU) def. Jessica Simosa (KSU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

No. 3 Christine Skoda (KU) def. Paulina Castillejos (KSU), 7-5, 6-7 (7-5), 6-1.

No. 4 Brittany Brown (KU) def. Hayley McIver (KSU), 6-2, 6-2.

No. 5 Judith Diaz (KSU) def. Luiza Loureiro (KU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

No. 6 Ashley Filberth (KU) def. Aveen Alkhatib (KSU), 6-2, 6-2.

 

DOUBLES

No. 1 Steinbock/Kristen Steinbock (KU) def. Rosenberg/Castillejos (KSU), 8-3.

No. 2 Simosa/Diaz (KSU) def. Haylock/Filberth (KU), 8-3.

No. 3 Skoda/Brown (KU) def. McIver/Emily Mickelson, 8-3.

K-StateSports Women's Tennis

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