Kansas tennis duo ranked No. 1; team ranking jumps to No. 14
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas first doubles team of seniors Janet Koch and Nina Khmelnitckaia is ranked No. 1 in the nation in Tuesday’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.
“We are excited for Janet and Nina,” said Kansas head coach Todd Chapman. “Anytime you achieve being the best doubles team in the country it should be celebrated. Janet and Nina have had a great year and were really close a few weeks ago when they reached No. 2 in the rankings. The most impressive part is they have been consistent all year long and maintained a high level the whole year. The exciting part is they are still very hungry and motivated for what is in front of us as a team and as a doubles team.”
Koch and Khmelnitckaia first started playing doubles together in the summer of 2018 when they won the Oracle ITA National Summer Championships. Their success did not stop in the summer; they also won the prestigious Riviera ITA All-American Championships in October.
This spring, the duo has notched a 12-1 record, including a 5-0 record against nationally ranked opponents. For the overall 2018-19 season, the tandem is 10-4 when playing against other ranked doubles teams.
As a team, the Jayhawks moved up three spots to No. 14 in the national poll. Last weekend, Kansas earned wins against No. 25 Texas Tech and TCU.
Also in doubles, Kansas’ Anastasia Rychagova and Sonia Smagina are ranked No. 60 with a 12-3 record this spring.
In singles, Rychagova comes in at No. 25 with a 14-2 record, 8-2 against nationally ranked opponents this spring. Throughout the fall and spring seasons combined, she has compiled a 9-3 mark against ranked foes. Fellow Kansas senior Koch is ranked No. 113.
UP NEXT
Kansas tennis continues its five-match homestand as the No. 14-ranked Jayhawks take on Iowa State Friday, April 5, at 5 p.m., and West Virginia Sunday, April 7, at noon at the Jayhawk Tennis Center.
