Sonia Smagina defeats Nationally Ranked Opponent at Thunderbird Invitational

TEMPE, Ariz. and LAS VEGAS – Sophomore Sonia Smagina took down No. 54 Vanessa Wong of Washington on day one of the Arizona State Thunderbird Invitational at the Whiteman Tennis Center.

Smagina dominated the top-60 ranked Wong in a two-set rout by the score of 6-3 and 6-2. The winning did not stop with Smagina as KU grabbed two more singles and swept Michigan in doubles action.

Thunderbird Invitational
Nov. 8, 2019
Whiteman Tennis Center

 Washington vs. Kansas
Smagina (KU) def. Wong (UW) – 6-3, 6-2
Ngounoue (KU) def. Kopcalic (UW) – 6-2, 6-2
Delgado (KU) def. Gallagher (UW) – 6-3, 0-6, 6-4
Arakawa (UW) def. Deming (KU) – 6-3, 6-4

Kansas vs. Michigan
Smagina/Deming (KU) def. Lommer/Hammond (UM) – 6-2
Ngounoue/Delgado (KU) def. Cracuin/Lorenzini (UM) – 7-6(3)

In Las Vegas, Kansas boasted a strong showing in singles but didn’t fare well in doubles when freshmen Vasiliki Karvouni and Roxana Manu fell to Georgia Tech’s Gia Cohen and Nami Otsuka (8-6).

Singles play highlighted the day at UNLV where Karvouni completed play with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Kristen Prelle of Arizona. Manu fought a good battle in her triumph over Georgia Tech’s Nami Otsuka, which went to three sets (6-2, 4-6, 6-4).

2019 REBEL TENNIS WOMEN’S INVITATIONAL
Nov. 8, 2019
At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas 

Singles
Vasiliki Karvouni (KU) def. Kristen Prelle (AZ) 6-1, 6-2
Roxana Manu (KU) def. Nami Otsuka (GT) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

Doubles
Gia Cohen/Nami Otsuka (GT) def. Vasiliki Karvouni/Carmen Manu (KU) 8-6

KU continues its three-day contests on Saturday with the first match beginning at noon CT in Las Vegas and 9:30 a.m. CT in Tempe.