Kansas undefeated on day one of pre-qualifying draw
TULSA, Okla. β Malkia Ngounoue, Sonia Smagina and Maria Toran Ribes each started the ITA All-American Championships by winning two matches Saturday at the LaFortune Tennis Center and Michael Chase Tennis Center.
"The team competed really well today. We faced adversity, which is a good thing, because without being pushed, there is no way for us to improve. As we progress through the tournament, the most important thing is to compete and be great in the details. We are excited about the opportunities ahead."
Associate Head Coach, Megan Falcon
All three will advance to the final stage of the singles pre-qualifying draw on Sunday. First to earn her spot, Ngounoue faced No. 107-ranked Stephanie Schrage of Princeton and Kalani Soli from Liberty winning both matches, 6-4, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-1 respectively.
KU sophomore Smagina, ranked No. 119 in theΒ ITAΒ national preseason poll, opened the tournament defeating Christie Wan of Columbia, 7-6, 0-6, 6-3. Smagina then triumphed over Lucia Marzal of Miami, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to advance to Sundayβs action.
Senior, Ribes (No. 122) bested Tereza Janakova (Mississippi) in her first match of the afternoon, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. Ribes defeated Lilian Poling (Boise State) in her second match, 7-5, 6-1 to round out the Jayhawks 6-0 match record on the day.
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Ribes πΏππ. Poling (Boise State) 7-5, 6-1
Jayhawks finish 6οΈβ£-0οΈβ£ on the day as a team!
Ngounoue, Smagina and Ribes advances to the final round of the pre-qualifying draw tomorrow! #RockChalk
β Kansas Tennis (@KansasTennis) October 6, 2019
Ngounoue will be first up with an 8 a.m. match with Smagina and Toran Ribes following at 9 a.m. tomorrow for a spot in the qualifying draw of the ITA All-American Championship.
