Jayhawks Wrap Up Season Opener

Thursday, January 15

Lawrence, Kan.

University of Kansas

Jayhawk Invitational

1/19/2026 3:13:00 PM | Women's Tennis

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas women's tennis opened its 2026 season by hosting the Jayhawk Invitational, Jan. 15-17, at the Jayhawk Tennis Center, where KU competed against Arkansas, Iowa State, and Kansas State.

The Jayhawk Invitational featured a hidden dual format, where the Jayhawks faced off against each team in singles and doubles.

Kansas opened the weekend by facing off against Memphis on Thursday. In singles action, the Jayhawks won four out of six matches, as Heike Janse van Vuuren defeated Natalia Koppova 6-4, 6-2, Yerkezhan Arystanbekova defeated Emma Dvorackova 6-3, 6-1, Meg McCarty defeated Clemence Thouard 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3, and Nahyeong Cho defeated Gabriella Felix of Iowa State 6-3, 6-3.

The Jayhawks competed against Iowa State on Friday, and picked up one doubles win, as Arystanbekova and Anna Putilina defeated Mari Paz Alberto Vilar and Stanislava Shulzhenko 6-3.

In singles against Iowa State, Kansas picked up five wins, as Kyoka Kybo defeated Ashlee Narker 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, Arystanbekova defeated Julia Camblor 6-2, 6-2, McCarty defeated Shulzhenko 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, Putilina defeated Alicia Dale 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, and Cho defeated Valeska San Martin Ramirez 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

On Saturday, Kansas faced Kansas State on the last day of the invitational. The Jayhawks picked up two doubles wins, as van Vuuren and McCarty defeated Maralgoo Chogsomjav and Martaa Chogsomjav 6-3, and Kinley VanPelt and Cho defeated Addison Renfro and Mallory Renfro 6-2.

In singles action, Kansas won four matches, with McCarty defeating Sasha Kyselova 6-4, 0-6, 6-4, Putilina defeating Diana Smolinska 6-3, 6-3, VanPelt defeating Mallory Renfro 6-0, 6-0, and Simryn Jacob defeating Addison Renfro 6-0, 6-0.

Kansas will round out January with three home duals, starting on Jan. 24 against Creighton at 11 a.m. CT and Kansas City at 5 p.m. CT at the Jayhawk Tennis Center. KU will conclude the month playing host to Nebraska on Jan. 30 with a 5 p.m. CT start.

Thursday - Memphis
Doubles:
Clemence Thouard and Emma Dvorackova (MEM) lost Anna Putilina and Meg McCarty (KU), 6-4
Natalia Koppova and Alicia Mall (MEM) def. Simryn Jacob and Kinley VanPelt (KU), 7-5

Singles:
Heike Janse van Vuuren (KU) def. Natalia Koppova (MEM), 6-4, 6-2
Yerkezhan Arystanbekova (KU) def. Emma Dvorackova (MEM), 6-3, 6-1
Meg McCarty (KU) def. Clemence Thouard (MEM), 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3
Nahyeong Cho (KU) def. Gabriella Felix (ISU), 6-3, 6-3
Alicia Mall (MEM) def. Anna Putilina (KU), 6-3, 6-4
Rebecca Frant (MEM) def. Kinley VanPelt (KU), 6-3, 6-2

Friday - Iowa State
Doubles:
Julia Camblor and Ashlee Narker (ISU) def. Kyoka Kubo and Heike Janse van Vuuren (KU), 6-4
Yerkezhan Arystanbekova and Anna Putilina (KU) def. Mari Paz Alberto Vilar and Stanislava Shulzhenko (ISU), 6-3
Suzanie Pretorius and Gabriella Keller (ISU) def. Meg McCarty and Kinley VanPelt (KU), 7-5
Valentina Vargas and Valeska San Martin Ramirez (ISU) def. Nahyeong Cho and Simryn Jacob (KU), 6-2

Singles:
Kyoka Kubo (KU) def. Ashlee Narker (ISU), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Mari Paz Alberto Vilar (ISU) def. Heike Janse van Vuuren (KU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Yerkezhan Arystanbekova (KU) def. Julia Camblor (ISU), 6-2, 6-2
Meg McCarty (KU) def. Stanislava Shulzhenko (ISU), 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Anna Putilina (KU) def. Alicia Dale (ISU), 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
Nahyeong Cho (KU) def. Valeska San Martin Ramirez (ISU), 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
Valentina Vargas (ISU) def. Kinley VanPelt (KU), 6-4, 6-2
Gabriella Kellner (ISU) def. Simryn Jacob (KU), 6-1, 6-2

Saturday - Kansas State
Doubles:
Heike Janse van Vuuren and Meg McCarty (KU) def. Maralgoo Chogsomjav and Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU), 6-3
Anna Putilina and Yerkezhan Arystanbekova (KU) vs. Chanel Rustemova and Sasha Kyselova (KSU), 4-4 unf.
Kinley VanPelt and Nahyeong Cho (KU) def. Addison Renfro and Mallory Renfro (KSU), 6-2

Singles:
Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Heike Janse van Vuuren (KU), 7-5, 6-3
Yerkezhan Arystanbekova (KU) vs. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU), 6-3, 4-6, 4-3 unf.
Meg McCarty (KU) def. Sasha Kyselova (KSU), 6-4, 0-6, 6-4
Anna Putilina (KU) def. Diana Smolinska (KSU), 6-3, 6-3
Kinley VanPelt (KU) def. Mallory Renfro (KSU), 6-0, 6-0
Simryn Jacob (KU) def. Addison Renfro (KSU), 6-0, 6-0