No. 11 Kansas rolls through Nebraska, 4-1

LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 11 Kansas prevailed over former Big 12 opponent Nebraska, 4-1, Wednesday afternoon at the Jayhawk Tennis Center.

For the fifth time this season, Kansas swept its opponent in doubles to claim the opening point of the match. The nation’s No. 3-ranked duo of Janet Koch and Nina Khmelnitckaia triumphed at first doubles over NU’s Vasanti Shinde and Marina Cozac, 6-3. The Jayhawks’ No. 53-ranked doubles tandem of Anastasia Rychagova and Sonia Smagina bested Jessica Aragon and Claire Reifeis at second doubles, 6-3, claiming the doubles point for Kansas.

Maria Toran Ribes and Malkia Ngounoue, ranked No. 41 in the nation, were leading Jeannie Lozowski and Hayley Haakenstad, 5-4, at third doubles, but did not finish since Kansas had already clinched the doubles point.

Freshman Smagina, at sixth singles, was first to the finish line in singles with a victory over Hayley Haakenstad, 6-0, 6-3, giving the Jayhawks their second point of the match.

Plobrung Plipuech helped keep Kansas’ foot on the gas as she claimed the third point of the match with a win over Marina Cozac, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 3 singles.

At No. 2 singles, Koch, now ranked 50th nationally, dropped a 6-4, 6-3 decision to Nebraska’s Shinde, narrowing the Kansas lead to 3-1.

But No. 53-ranked Rychagova beat Claire Reifes, 7-6(3), 6-2, giving the Jayhawks their fourth point and the match.

Khmelnitckaia and Smagina’s singles matches each ended unfinished after Rychagova claimed No. 11-ranked Kansas its fourth victory on the season.

QUOTES
Kansas head coach Todd Chapman
“Credit to Nebraska. They put us in a lot of uncomfortable situations. Once we found ourselves in those situations, I do not feel like we responded the way we needed to. We were fortunate to get out of the match with a 4-1 victory. Hopefully, we learn and get better from it.”

UP NEXT
Kansas tennis will host Tulsa on Saturday, February 16, at 12 p.m., at the Jayhawk Tennis Center located at Rock Chalk Park.
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