Jayhawks finish Marliss Gruver Fall Invitational
AUBURN, Ala. – After a successful first two days of the Marliss Gruver Fall Invitational Kansas tennis fell short in all three of its matches Sunday to conclude the tournament.
Neither freshman Malkia Ngounoue nor sophomore Plobrung Plipuech were able to claim the titles in their respective singles championship matches. Ngounoue was bested by Miami’s Estela Perez-Somarriba, 7-5, 6-2, in Sunday morning’s final as she finished runner-up in the flight one bracket. Plipuech battled throughout her title match, but was ultimately narrowly beaten out by Oklahoma’s Camilla Romero, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (8) to take second place in the flight two bracket. In the flight three fifth-place match, freshman Julia Deming took to the court against Ole Miss Rebel Alexa Bortles where she was defeated, 6-2, 6-0.
After earning a bye in the first round of the ITF Internacional Irlandes 2018, senior Jayhawk Anastasia Rychagova triumphed in her round of 16 match over Wisconsin’s Sara Castellano, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, Sunday in Mexico City. With the win, Rychagova qualifies for the main draw of the tournament, which continues through Thursday, Nov. 4.
QUOTES
Kansas head coach Todd Chapman
On the Jayhawks’ performances Sunday in Auburn, Alabama:
“In the big moments of games and sets today we played not to lose too many times. Hopefully, this young group learns the valuable lesson that you have to play fearless, and not fearful, in those situations.”
Kansas assistant coach Caroline Lilley
On the play of Anastasia Rychagova in Mexico City:
“Laying a solid foundation is critical to any and all sustainable growth. Anastasia faced a lot of adversity Sunday and a player who could make her uncomfortable and disrupt her rhythm. I am proud of her willingness to stick with the process and trust her firm foundation. As we work on approaching every opportunity with an ‘Everything to gain mentality,’ we will continue to take incremental steps forward.”
RESULTS
Marliss Gruver Fall Invitational
Perez-Somarriba (Miami) def. Ngounoue (Kansas), 7-5, 6-2
Romero (Oklahoma) def. Plipuech (Kansas), 6-3, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (8)
Bortles (Ole Miss) def. Deming (Kansas), 6-2, 6-0
UP NEXT
Rychagova will begin singles play in the main draw Monday in Mexico City at a time that has yet to be announced.
Kansas tennis is set to host the ITF 25K at the Jayhawk Tennis Center. Competition begins Sunday, Nov. 4, and will run through Saturday, Nov. 10.
FOLLOW
@KansasTennis
/KansasTennis
@KansasTennis
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
