Rychagova an ITA All-American
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas tennis junior Anastasia Rychagova became the first Jayhawk to be named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American in 20 years following the conclusion of the 2017-18 season.
The last KU tennis student-athlete to earn the All-American honor was Kylie Hunt in 1998. After remaining in the ITA’s top-10 throughout the entirety of the season, Rychagova is now the sixth Jayhawk to join the prestigious group of competitors.
“We couldn’t be happier for Nas (Rychagova) or more proud of her than we are,” said head coach Todd Chapman. “Being an All-American has been one of her goals, so to see her accomplish this achievement is wonderful. She worked extremely hard last summer to set herself up for a great season.”
Rychagova started 2017-18 out strong in the fall with an invitation to the Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American in early October. The Moscow, Russia, native won three-consecutive matches to advance to the main draw bracket. After dropping her first match to the eventual winner of the tournament, Rychagova went on to compete in the consolation bracket. She defeated four-straight opponents, including the No. 3 seed, to claim the title of Main Draw Consolation Champion.
The junior was just one of two Jayhawks to qualify for the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships, the most competitive event of the fall season. Rychagova lost on the second day of match play, to, yet again, the eventual champion of the tournament. Rychagova ended her fall season with a 10-2 record, with her only losses coming against title winners. Her successful few months landed her as the No. 1-ranked player in the nation at the conclusion of fall play.
“Nas spent four months this year as the No. 1-collegiate tennis player in the nation, which is very impressive,” said Chapman. “Injury shortened her spring season, but I know she will work hard and come back even stronger.”
That injury kept Rychagova out of play early, missing the first two dual matches of the spring season. Ready to compete with her teammates, Rychagova began her spring season on January 27 against No. 18-ranked Arkansas. The Jayhawks won the match, 4-3, for their first victory of the season.
Rychagova participated in 10 dual-play matches for Kansas this season before succumbing to injury after the Texas match on March 16. In those 10 matches, Rychagova won eight-straight, had one go unfinished and dropped her final match to the nation’s new No. 1-ranked player, Bianca Turati of Texas.
Despite a shortened season due to injury, Rychagova still managed an overall record of 18-3, including 8-1 in dual matches and 11-2 against nationally-ranked opponents. She earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Singles Championships as the No. 8-seeded singles player and was named the ITA Central Region Player to Watch at the conclusion of the season.
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