Competing as a full squad for the first time this fall, K-State tennis delivered one of its strongest season performances at the ITA Central Regional Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, Oct. 15-19.
The team finished 19-13 in singles, reached the doubles quarterfinals and saw freshman Marta Leon reach the singles quarterfinals. The Wildcats also went 7-0 in decisive three-set matches while facing three nationally ranked opponents over the four-day event.
Oct. 15 | Qualifying round victories
K-State got off to a fast start in singles play Thursday, with Leon and Sabrina Balderrama winning two qualifying matches each to earn a spot in the main singles draw. Both players survived a tiebreak in the first-round qualifying before coming out on top. Balderrama escaped another three-set match over Tulsa’s Alice Baba to advance while Leon swept Minnesota’s Nora Knezevic.
Balderrama also had a strong start in doubles, pairing with sophomore Varya Bernovich to best an Iowa State pairing 8-6. Sisters Maralgoo and Martaa Chogsomjav also won in doubles, 8-3. Overall, the ‘Cats went 8-4 in singles play and 2-3 in doubles play to position themselves nicely for the rest of the weekend.
Oct. 16 | Ranked singles win and doubles success
One of the Wildcats’ biggest wins of the season came Friday as Balderrama knocked off Memphis’ Leonie Moeller, ranked No. 107 in the ITA preseason poll, in three sets: 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4. The win advanced the freshman to the second round of the main draw and proved the Wildcats could compete with nationally ranked opponents. Leon and senior Maralgoo Chogsomjov also earned sweep singles victories.
In doubles, Balderrama and Bernovich earned a round-of-32 win over a Lindenwood team, 8-3, and a round-of-16 win over Oklahoma State’s Veronika Kliuch and Arina Malygina, 8-5, to advance to the quarterfinals. The Chogsomjov sisters defeated a Memphis opponent 8-3 in the round of 32 before falling 8-4 to KU’s Polina Koneva and Kyoka Kubo in the round of 16 to end their run.
The Wildcats entered the weekend in strong position in both doubles and singles play, with a doubles quarterfinalist and three singles teams in the second round.
Oct. 17 | Singles sectional bid and decisive matches
Saturday proved to be where the rubber met the road for the Wildcats.
Leon began the day with a straight-set win (6-3, 6-1) over Arkansas State’s Sara Kastakova, then won by one set (6-1, 6-1) against Kansas City’s Flavia Monteverde to advance to the quarterfinals. The two wins earned Leon a spot in the ITA Central Sectionals tournament in Fort Worth.
Maralgoo Chogsomjov fell to Oklahoma’s Zoie Epps (5-7, 0-6), and Balderrama lost to Iowa’s Emma Tothova in straight sets, ending both of their singles runs. In extra matches, Diana Smolinska and Margaret Jaraczewski both were victorious to bring K-State’s singles record to 19-11 over the three days and Jaraczewski’s three-set match record to 3-0.
In doubles, Balderrama and Bernovich fell to Kansas duo Nahyeong Cho and Meg McCarthy in a tight quarterfinal (8-6), ending their tournament after three victories in two days.
Oct. 18 | Tournament wraps up
Leon was the main event for the Wildcats on day four, playing a quarterfinal match against Wichita State’s Xin Tong Wang, ranked No. 117. She fought hard in a close battle but couldn’t come out on top, falling in straight sets, 4-6, 4-6. The tournament was a major success for Leon, who played six matches in four days and swept five opponents.
“Obviously, major congrats to Marta Leon for making a run to the quarters in singles after having to qualify into the tournament on Thursday,” head coach Jordan Smith said. “That was really impressive and happy to see her shine so early in her career.”
While Leon’s run headlined the weekend, Smith said the regional’s significance extended beyond just any one player.
“It was great to finally be at an event with the entire team in one place,” Smith said. “This week is always a mental and physical grind each year.”
Smith praised the overall effort of the Wildcats and their accomplishments across the courts.
“I thought we did a solid job as a team competing,” Smith said. “Great to see our players tally up a lot of wins in singles this week. As well as seeing one of our teams make a run to the quarters.”
K-State forgoes competition this upcoming week and focuses on the H-E-B Invitational from Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Waco, Texas, while Leon prepares for the ITA Central Sectional Championship Nov. 5-8 in Fort Worth.
