Kansas doubles teams fall in Arizona

SURPRISE and TEMPE, Ariz. – Kansas tennis fell just short of reaching the consolation bracket doubles finalafter losing in their semifinal match Saturday morning at the ITA National Fall Championships at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex.
 
Jayhawk seniors Nina Khmelnitckaia and Janet Koch won two matches in the consolation bracket to advance to the semifinals, including a victory against former conference rival Missouri. Saturday, the Kansas tandem battled once again, but they were ultimately bested by Virginia’s Sofia Munero and Meghan Kelley, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (6) to end their tournament run.
 
Meanwhile, at the Arizona State Thunderbird Invitational in Tempe, a day after defeating K-State in doubles, Julia Deming and Plobrung Plipuech took on a pair of Michigan Wolverines Saturday. Deming and Plipuech were defeated by Bella Lorenzini and Lera Patiuk, 6-2.
 
For the second-consecutive day, Plipuech notched a singles victory over an in-state rival. Saturday, Plipuech triumphed over K-State’s Ines Mesquita, 6-0, 6-1. Deming also took on another Wildcat in Rosanna Maffei. Deming was bested by Maffei, 7-5, 6-3. 
 
QUOTES
Kansas head coach Todd Chapman
On the performance of seniors Nina Khmelnitckaia and Janet Koch at the ITA National Fall Championships:
“Saturday was the end of a great fall season for Nina and Janet. They competed hard and fought back to get into the match. We are proud of how they developed this fall as a doubles team and we look forward to getting back to work and getting ready for our spring season.”
 
On the performance of freshman Julia Deming and sophomore Plobrung Plipuech at the Arizona State Thunderbird Invitational:
“We started off slow in the doubles and a team like Michigan does not forgive. In our singles, both girls competed hard and should gain confidence from their performance. Each should take confidence into the last day of our fall schedule Sunday.”

RESULTS
ITA National Fall Championships
 
Doubles
Munero/Kelley (Virgina) def. Khmelnitckaia/Koch (Kansas), 6-2, 3-6, 1-0(6)
 
Arizona State Thunderbird Invitational
Singles
Plipuech (Kansas) def. Ines Mesquita (K-State), 6-0, 6-1
Maffei (K-State) def. Deming (Kansas), 7-5, 6-3
 
Doubles
Lorenzini/ Patiuk (Michigan) def. Deming/Plipuech (Kansas), 6-2
 
UP NEXT
Kansas tennis wraps up the fall 2018 portion of its season Sunday, the final day of the Arizona State Thunderbird Invitational. In doubles play, the Jayhawks will take on Big 12 conference opponent TCU. Following doubles competition, Deming and Plipuech will take to the court against Michigan Wolverines in singles play. Matches begin at 9 a.m., local time, at the Whiteman Tennis Center in Tempe, Arizona.

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