Match Preview: 2019 fall season begins on the road

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas women’s tennis begins its fall season this weekend sending two Jayhawks to the Wahoowa Invitational in Charlottesville, Virginia, and three to the Marliss Gruver Fall Invitational in Auburn, Alabama. Both invitationals start Friday, Sept 20, and lasts throughout the weekend.

Led by seven-year head coach Todd Chapman, the Jayhawks return four letter winners from their 2019 Big 12 Championship team. Kansas posted a 27-win campaign and dominated the conference slate with a 13-2 record. KU’s 2019 effort earned the Jayhawks a No. 13 national ranking in the ITA.

Others returning this fall include sophomores Julia Deming and Sonia Smagina with the addition of four freshmen: Roxana Manu, Luniuska Delgado, Oleksandra Gorchanyuk ad Vasiliki Karvouni.

Highlighting the four returners are senior Maria Toran Ribes and sophomore Malkia Ngounoue. Named to the All-Big 12 singles second team, Ribes posted an 18-5 record in the spring. Ngounoue, who teamed with Ribes, notched a 17-3 performance at the No. 3 position. Both student-athletes were named to the All-Big 12 Doubles Second Team.

During the preseason, Ribes and Malkia Ngounoue earned a top-60 spot on the 2019-20 Preseason ITA DI Doubles National Rankings. The doubles duo checked in at No. 57. In addition, Ribes along Sonia Smagina received individual national nods, coming in at No. 124 and No. 121, respectively.