MANHATTAN, Kan. Trailing 3-2 with two singles matches remaining, Kansas State women’s tennis was able to rally for a 4-3 win on Friday afternoon over Oklahoma State at the Washburn Tennis Facility. This is the first K-State win over the Cowgirls since March 9, 2003.

Kansas State (6-7, 2-2 Big 12) trailed 3-2 following a three-set win by Sasha Belova of Oklahoma State at number four singles over K-State’s Vanessa Cottin, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. The final result fell upon the numbers one and two singles matches, as each went into a third set. Senior Viviana Yrureta improved to 9-1 on the season in three-set matches, as she defeated Iryna Tkachenko, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 at number one singles.

Now with the match tied at three, freshman Antea Huljev needed to capture her match to seal the victory. Huljev fought back from a 4-3 deficit in the third set to defeat Yawna Allen, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. The win by Huljev was her first at the number two singles position and ended a three-match losing streak.

The other singles victory for K-State came at the number six position in the lineup. Freshman Pauline Guemas was a late change to the lineup as senior Olga Klimova was unable to play. Guemas responded with her fourth win of the season and her first since Feb. 16, defeating Jessica Collins, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1. Guemas is now 3-1 in three-set matches.

K-State got off on the right foot, as they captured the doubles point for the first time since March 5. The Wildcats captured wins at number one and number three doubles. The top duo of Klimova and Katerina Kudlackova defeated the Cowgirls top pair of Tkacheno and Allen, 8-5. Yrureta and Natasha Vieira outlasted Collins and Marina Tkachenko at number three, 8-6. When the Wildcats have secured the doubles point over the last three years, K-State is 23-7.

Kansas State’s weekend continues on Saturday, as the Wildcats welcome in Oklahoma at 1 p.m.

Oklahoma State (6-6, 0-3 Big 12) vs. Kansas State (6-7, 2-2 Big 12)

March 28, 2008

Manhattan, Kan. Washburn Tennis Facility

Final Results

Kansas State 4, Oklahoma State 3

Doubles:
1. Katerina Kudlackova/Olga Klimova (KSU) def. Yawna Allen/Iryna Tkachenko (OSU); 8-5
2. JoAnne Karaitiana/Sasha Belova (OSU) def. Antea Huljev/ Vanessa Cottin (KSU) 9-7
3. Viviana Yrureta/Natasha Vieira (KSU); def. Jessica Collins/Marina Tkachenko (OSU); 8-6

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles:
1. Viviana Yrureta (KSU) def. Iryna Tkachenko (OSU); 6-3, 2-6, 6-2

2. Antea Huljev (KSU) def. Yawna Allen (OSU); 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

3. JoAnne Karaitiana (OSU) def. Katerina Kudlackova (KSU); 6-1, 6-3

4. Sasha Belova (OSU) def. Vanessa Cottin (KSU); 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 

5. Marina Tkachenko (OSU) def. Natasha Vieira (KSU); 6-1, 6-1

6. Pauline Guemas (KSU) def. Jessica Collins (OSU); 3-6, 6-0, 6-1

Order of finish: 5, 3, 6, 4, 1, 2*

* match clinched at No. 2 singles