Kansas duo upended in Round of 16

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. –Kansas juniors Nina Khmelnitckaia and Anastasia Rychagova’s run at the NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Doubles Championship came to an end after a two-set loss Friday afternoon to a team from Vanderbilt at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
 
No. 20 Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova tied their first set, 1-1, opposite of Vanderbilt’s No. 11-ranked Fernanda Contreras and Astra Sharma. The Commodores then won five-straight games to take the 6-1 first-set win.
 
“What a special season for Kansas tennis,” said assistant coach Caroline Lilley. “Although it is a tough way for Nina and Nas (Rychagova) to finish their junior years, it is also a great learning experience. As we continue to move forward and strive for greatness, matches like today will serve as motivation to aspire for daily improvements. I am proud of both of them, proud of the adversity we overcame this year, as a program, and could not be more excited about the future.”
 
The Jayhawks started out strong in the second set, taking an early, 2-0, lead over Contreras and Sharma. Vanderbilt’s duo answered by claiming six-straight games, ultimately winning the match, 6-1, 6-2.
 
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