Jayhawks Top Iowa State On Senior Day, 4-3
April 21, 2013
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas women’s tennis team earned its second consecutive Big 12 victory Sunday, defeating Iowa State, 4-3, at Jayhawk Tennis Center to wrap up regular season dual play.
The Jayhawks (10-9, 2-7 Big 12), who routed West Virginia at home on Friday, came out strong on Senior Day, earning the doubles point and winning the No. 2, 3 and 4 singles matches to seal the victory. KU will face the Cyclones again in round one of the Big 12 Championships, which is scheduled to begin Thursday in Norman, Okla.
“Coming off a big win against West Virginia, we definitely had a lot of intensity and it showed in doubles,” head coach Amy Hall-Holt said. “I was really proud of how everybody stepped in and competed hard today. It’s what we needed to get these wins this weekend.”
Senior Victoria Khanevskaya and freshman Anastasija Trubica started doubles play strong for the Jayhawks, cruising past Emma Waites and Caroline Andersen of ISU, 8-1, at the No. 3 position. It was their third consecutive doubles victory in conference play.
Kansas wrapped-up the doubles point when sophomore Maria Belen Ludueña and junior Paulina Los charged back from an early deficit to defeat Ksenia Pronina and Jenna Langhorst, 8-4, at the No. 1 spot.
In singles, KU junior Dylan Windom was only four games into her No. 4 match when Langhorst retired due to injury, giving the Jayhawks a 2-1 lead. Los then defeated Iowa State’s Meghan Cassens, 6-4, 6-1, at the No. 3 position before Cardona clinched the team victory with her 6-2, 7-5 win over Pronina in the No. 2 match.
Free hot dogs and chips for spectators brought the Jayhawks one of their largest home crowds of the season, with an estimated 60-70 fans attending the match throughout the day.
Other quotes:
Senior Victoria Khanevskaya
On closing out her home career with a team win:
“It feels amazing. When we won the doubles point, I was really impressed with how everyone competed. I was playing my (singles) match, and when I realized we won the whole match I got so happy because I knew it was my Senior Day. Inside, I really wanted to beat Iowa State because we lost to them last year and I wanted to battle back.”
On playing in the last home match of her collegiate career:
‘It hasn’t (hit me) yet. When I was playing singles and doubles, I couldn’t realize that it was my last match and even right now I’m standing right here in front of you and I haven’t realized it. It will probably hit me once we’re playing in Big 12’s.”
Head Coach Amy Hall-Holt
On Victoria Khanevskaya celebrating her Senior Day:
“She has just been a positive influence on the team. If it ever seems that bad, she could always put a spin on it to where it’s a positive. There’s never a day where Vika doesn’t have a smile on her face. Having that kind of attitude and having that kind of player on this team is definitely a plus. She’s going to have a great career in business after she leaves here and has the ambition to just go as far as she can take it. By having that positive attitude, that’s going to help her take the next step and be very successful.”
Kansas 4, Iowa State 3
Jayhawk Tennis Center, Lawrence, Kan.
Doubles
No. 1 – Maria Belen Ludueña / Paulina Los (KU) def. Ksenia Pronina / Jenna Langhorst (ISU) 8-4
No. 2 – Simona Cacciutolo / Meghan Cassens (ISU) def. Dylan Windom / Maria Jose Cardona (KU) 8-7 (5)
No. 3 – Victoria Khanevskaya / Anastasija Trubica (KU) def. Emma Waites / Caroline Andersen (ISU) 8-1
Order of Finish – 3, 1, 2
Doubles
No. 1 – Simona Cacciuttolo (ISU) def. Maria Belen Ludueña (KU) 6-1, ret. (injury)
No. 2 – Maria Jose Cardona (KU) def. Ksenia Pronina (ISU) 6-2, 7-5
No. 3 – Paulina Los (KU) def. Meghan Cassens (ISU) 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 – Dylan Windom (KU) def. Jenna Langhorst (ISU) 2-2, ret. (injury)
No. 5 – Ana Gasparovic (ISU) def. Anastasija Trubica (KU) 6-4, 6-1
No. 6 – Emma Waites (ISU) def. Victoria Khanevskaya (KU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Order of Finish – 4, 1, 3, 2, 5, 6
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