The UTR Sports NIT Championship gave K-State women’s tennis one more chance to extend its season, and the Wildcats capitalized with a semifinal run before falling one point short of the final.
Now in its fourth year, the postseason tournament serves as an alternative championship event for teams left out of the NCAA Tournament. The Rome Tennis Center in Rome, Georgia, hosted the eight-team bracket which allows programs to continue competing in May while building momentum for the following season.
The tournament featured No. 1 K-State, No. 2 North Texas, No. 3 Arkansas State, No. 4 North Alabama, No. 5 Army, No. 6 McNeese State, No. 7 Charleston and No. 8 Northern Illinois.
K-State entered the tournament as the top seed and opened postseason play Tuesday with a 4-2 quarterfinal win over Northern Illinois. The Wildcats advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal, where No. 4 North Alabama edged K-State 4-3.
“Glad our program was selected for this opportunity to compete in May,” K-State head coach Jordan Smith said before the tournament. “That’s the main focus from our team each year is to be playing in May. Hopefully, this week will spark a consistent tradition of that and our players give their best.”
K-State entered postseason play at 8-13 overall after finishing 3-10 in Big 12 play.
Wildcats rally past Northern Illinois
K-State opened its NIT run by battling back from an early doubles deficit and defeating Northern Illinois 4-2 in the quarterfinals.
Northern Illinois grabbed the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. Maralgoo Chogsomjav and Martaa Chogsomjav fell in a tiebreaker at No. 1 doubles, while Mallory Renfro and Diana Smolinska dropped the match on court three. The No. 2 doubles pairing of Varvara Bernovich and Chanel Rustemova remained unfinished.
The Wildcats quickly shifted the momentum in singles play.
Smolinska tied the match with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Nataly Ninova on court four before Maralgoo Chogsomjav gave K-State the lead with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Irmak Budak at No. 1 singles.
Martaa Chogsomjav added another point on court three, surviving a first-set tiebreaker before defeating Lucia Yecora 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.
Bernovich clinched the match at No. 2 singles. After winning the first set 6-2 and dropping the second 5-7, the freshman regained control in the third and defeated Theodora Kousiou 6-1 to send K-State to the semifinals.
The Wildcats earned their first postseason win under Smith.
North Alabama edges K-State in semifinals
K-State’s postseason run ended one round later as North Alabama escaped with a 4-3 semifinal victory.
Doubles once again proved decisive. North Alabama secured the opening point with wins on courts one and three, while Bernovich and Rustemova led 4-3 in the unfinished match at No. 2 doubles.
K-State answered by splitting the six singles courts, but the Lions held onto the advantage they created in doubles.
Smolinska put the Wildcats on the board first for the second straight day, defeating Sammie Schouten 6-4, 6-3 on court four. Martaa Chogsomjav followed with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Mathilde Delaney at No. 3 singles, finishing her freshman season with a team-high 20 singles wins. Maralgoo Chogsomjav added K-State’s third point at No. 1 singles, defeating Eeva Ristola 6-4, 6-4 to close the season on a 13-set winning streak.
North Alabama responded on the remaining three courts. Emma Ansorge defeated Bernovich on court two, Louise Booker beat Rustemova on court five and Senem Ocal topped Addison Renfro on court six, giving the Lions the final three singles victories needed to secure the match.
“Tough one today to come up short,” Smith said. “Despite being shorthanded, I’m really proud of our ladies for giving their all. It’s been a while since we’ve competed in May, but I know we’ll be back at it with a higher level next year at regionals.”
The Wildcats’ appearance in Rome marked the program’s first postseason team event under Smith.
