Ngounoue Defeats Top-30 Opponent, Manu Prevails in Finals of the Rebel Tennis Invitational

TEMPE, Ariz. and LAS VEGAS – Kansas capped off the 2019 fall slate with two big wins in two different states.

In Tempe, Arizona, Sophomore Malkia Ngounoue defeated No. 26 Chiara Lommer of the University of Michigan by a 6-2, 7-6 (2) decision while Roxana Manu clipped Gia Cohen of Georgia Tech (7-6, 6-1) in Las Vegas.

The Jayhawks ended the fall season on high with Sonia Smagina picking up a three-set victory over the University of Michigan. Luniuska Delgado and Julia Deming found a way in doubles action with at 6-4 win over Norte Dame. KU ended the Thunderbird Invitational with an 8-4 singles record and a 4-1 doubles mark.

2019 THUNDERBIRD INVITATIONAL
Nov. 10, 2019
Whiteman Tennis Center, Tempe, Ariz. 

SINGLES
Smagina (KU) def. Hammond (UM) – 6-0, 4-6, 1-0(8)
Ngounoue (KU) def.  #26 Lommer (UM) – 6-2, 7-6(5)
Lorenzini (UM) def. Delgado (KU) – 6-2, 6-3
Cracuin (UM) def. Deming (KU) – 3-6, 6-0, 1-0(8)

DOUBLES
Hatting/Hampton (ASU) def. Smagina/Ngounoue (KU) – 7-5
Delgado/Deming (KU) def. Lilien/Waldrum (ND) – 6-4

In Las Vegas, Manu competed in the Flight Two Singles finals match where she dominated in a 7-6, 6-1 battle. Vasiliki Karvouni fell to Mississippi’s Tereza Janatova by the result of 6-2, 6-3. The pair later competed in doubles against Colorado’s Antonia Balzert and Ellie Puzak. Manu and Karvoui came out victorious (8-4).

The ASU and UNLV tourneys concludes KU’s fall season; the spring season will begin on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, when Kansas travels to Orlando for the Orlando Invitational.

2019 REBEL TENNIS WOMEN’S INVITATIONAL
Nov. 10, 2019
At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas 

FLIGHT ONE SINGLES CONSOLATION
Tereza Janatova (MISS) def. Vasiliki Karvouni (KU) 6-2, 6-3

FLIGHT TWO SINGLES FINAL
Roxana Manu (KU) def. Gia Cohen (GT) 7-6, 6-1

FLIGHT ONE DOUBLES CONSOLATION
Vasiliki Karvouni/Carmen Manu (KU) def. Antonia Balzert/Ellie Puzak (CU) 8-4