Jayhawk Duo Advances to Doubles Quarterfinals at Midland Invitational

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas women’s tennis got the 2015 fall season underway Friday as senior Maria Jose Cardona and sophomore Summer Collins paired up in doubles and also hit the singles courts at the 2015 Midland Invitational in Midland, Texas. 
The duo paired up in doubles play for the first time in their KU careers, advancing to Saturday’s quarterfinals. Cardona and Collins received an opening round bye and then knocked off UAB’s Amy Lowther and McKenna Root, 6-3. 
“I was happy to see the girls play well together in their first match together,” said Kansas head coach Todd Chapman. “We started out slow and then really played well the last seven games of the set. I thought today had some good moments and definitely some areas we found out that we need to improve on. Maria and Summer are both going to get some matches in tomorrow in singles and will play their quarterfinal doubles match tomorrow afternoon. We look forward to another day of tough competition.”
Cardona went 1-1 on the day in singles play. She was bested, 7-5, 7-5, by Devin McCluskey of Penn State before bouncing back to defeat Anna Spengler of Lamar, 6-1, 6-4, in the consolation bracket. 
“For Maria, this was the second and third matches she has played in since the end of February due to injury,” said Chapman. “She just needs to continue getting matches under her belt to get back to her old self.”

Collins opened the tournament dropping a tough three-set match to Penn State’s Jackie Zuhse, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3. She then took on Texas Tech’s Sabrina Federici, 6-4, 6-1, in the consolation bracket. 

“Summer had a really good start this morning and was up a set and 5-2 in the second and didn’t close the door when she had a couple match points,” said Chapman. “Her opponent picked her level up and it was a tough battle through the end. It is a learning lesson for her and those are things the fall season is good for.”

Cardona and Collins will return to day two of action at the Midland Invitational Saturday morning. 

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