KU Tennis Falls 6-1 to No, 25 Texas A&M Despite Morozova's Big Win
March 27, 2011
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas tennis’ No. 1 doubles player Ekaterina Morozova knocked off No. 18-ranked Nazari Urbina Sunday afternoon at the Jayhawk Tennis Center, but No. 25 Texas A&M prevailed in the end with a 6-1 win.
The Kansas junior defeated Urbina 6-4, 6-1 leading throughout the first-singles match, to defeat just the second nationally-ranked singles player of her career. It was the first time a KU player defeated a ranked opponent since Morozova captured a win against the 118th-ranked player from BYU March 6, 2009, and it was the first time since 2005 that a Jayhawk earned a win over a top-30 opponent. Ksenia Bukina was the last player to match that feat October 20, 2005, defeating No. 30.
The win was also her second victory over a ranked opponent in as many matches, as she combined with Dylan Windom for a doubles win over Texas’ 23rd-ranked team of Amanda Craddock and Cierra Gayton-Leach in Saturday’s match.
Morozova finished a nearly perfect weekend with an easy 8-1 defeat of Urbina and Christi Liles with Windom in No. 1 doubles before going on to down Urbina in singles.
After Morozova and Windom opened the match with a win, the Nos. 2 and 3 KU doubles teams went down, giving A&M a 1-0 lead.
In singles, KU played the Aggies tough from top to bottom, with Texas A&M only narrowly edging the Jayhawks in three matches.
Morozova started off singles play with a win, but Sara Lazarevic and Monica Pezzotti soon fell, extending the Aggie lead to 3-1.
Paulina Los and Erin Wilbert didn’t make things easy on Janelle Cuthbertson and Stephanie Davidson in the Nos. 4 and 5 contests. Los had the first set tied at 4-4, but Cuthbertson went on to win the next two games. In the second set, Los pulled out to a 4-0 lead and held off Cuthbertson for a 6-4 win that forced a decisive third set. But Los fell 6-2 in the final set, giving Cuthbert the win.
Wilbert also forced a third set after she cruised to a 6-2 win in the second, but the score was reversed in the third, as Davidson took the match 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.
Dylan Windom finished off the day for the Jayhawks against Lauren Santacroce. The freshman started off ahead with a 3-0 lead but Santacroce then went on a tear, tying the match at three and again at four before going on to overtake Windom 6-4. In the second set, Windom again went up early before Santacroce came back to tie. Windom tied Santacroce at two and at three before Santacroce put the match away by winning the next three games.
Kansas has now lost four straight going into next weekend’s Big 12 road matches. The Jayhawks moved to 6-8 on the season and 0-4 in the Big 12, while the Aggies improved to 9-4 and 3-2 in conference play.
Next up for KU is a visit to Iowa State where the Jayhawks search for their first conference win as well as their 33rd consecutive victory against the Cyclones. Kansas will face Iowa State Friday at 2:30, in Ames, Iowa.
No. 25 Texas A&M 6, Kansas 1
March 27, 2011 – Lawrence Kan.
Jayhawk Tennis Center
DOUBLES
No. 1 Morozova/Windom (KU) def. Liles/Urbina (TAMU) 8-1
No. 2 Cuthbertson/Urbina (TAMU) def. Wilbert/Lazarevic (KU) 8-2
No. 3 Davidson/Oliver (TAMU) def. Pezzotti/Los (KU) 8-2
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
SINGLES
No. 1 Ekaterina Morozova (KU) def. #18 Nazari Urbina (TAMU) 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 Morgan Frank (TAMU) def. Monica Pezzotti (KU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 Christi Liles (TAMU) def. Sara Lazarevic (KU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 Janelle Cuthbertson (TAMU) def. Paulina Los (KU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
No. 5 Stephanie Davidson (TAMU) def. Erin Wlbert (KU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
No. 6 Lauren Santacroce (TAMU) def. Dylan Windom (KU) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2, 5, 4, 6
Team Records: No. 25 Texas A&M (9-4, 3-2 Big 12); Kansas (6-8, 0-4 Big 12)
