Jayhawks See Some Success at Friday’s Oklahoma Classic

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas women’s tennis opened the Oklahoma Classic Friday, as all 11 players on the roster traveled to Norman, Oklahoma for the second of four tournaments on the Jayhawks’ fall schedule.
 
With a slate loaded with top competition, the Jayhawks had several winners to open the Oklahoma Classic. Among the first round winners for Kansas were freshman Smith Hinton, and Alexis Czapinski and sophomore Caroline Henderson.
 
Hinton defeated Mboko of Denver, 6-4, 6-4, Czapinski defeated Ann Pepper of host Oklahoma, 7-5, 6-2 and sophomore Caroline Henderson knocked off Brittney Reed of Abilene Christian, 6-1, 6-3.
 
Freshman Lauren Pickens dropped her opening round contest but came back to defeat Alba Escaloma Pemy from Tulsa, 6-2, 6-4, in the Switzer Consolation bracket.
 
In the quarterfinals Maria Jose Cardona defeated Renata Kuricova from Tulsa, 6-4, 6-1. Also in quarterfinals action in the Stoops Draw, freshman Rachel McNeely took her match against Macie Elliot of SMU, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
 
Saturday’s play at the Oklahoma Classic looks to include two rounds of doubles play, along with the semifinals round of singles action. Kansas head coach Todd Chapman is looking forward to seeing his players compete again as they continue to work on their overall development in fall action.
 
“Today we got a lot of good competition in,” said Chapman. “We put ourselves in a lot of winning positions, but we had a hard time closing those matches out. Our third set record was not where we would like it to be. We have to continue to mature in those situations and learn to be more confident and mentally tough. We are looking forward to another tough day of competition tomorrow.”
 
Action gets underway at the Headington Family Tennis Center at 9 a.m., Saturday.
 
Kansas Women’s Tennis Results
Oklahoma Classic
 
Singles:
Boomer Draw First Round
Lily Miyazaki (OU) def. Maria Belen Luduena (KU) 6-2, 6-4
 
Boomer Draw Consolation Bracket
Sara Castellano (KSU) def. Maria Belen Luduena (KU) 7-5, 6-1
 
Sooner Draw First Round
Gabriela Porubin (WSU) def. Maria Jose Cardona (KU) 6-4, 6-2
Smith Hinton (KU) def. Gracia Mboko (Denver) 6-4, 6-4
Lucia Kovalova (WSU) def. Madison Harrison (KU) 6-0, 6-1
 
Switzer Draw First Round
Caroline Henderson (KU) def. Brittney Reed (ACU) 6-1, 6-3
Nada Marajanovic (ACU) def. Lauren Pickens (KU) 6-3, 6-1
 
Switzer Consolation Bracket
Lauren Pickens (KU) def. Alba Escalona Pemy (Tulsa) 6-2, 6-4
 
Stoops Draw First Round
Sonja Radosevic (Denver) def. Summer Collins (KU) 3-6, 7-6,
Emma Devine (OU) def. Rachel McNeely (KU) 6-2,
 
Quarterfinals
Malene Stripp (OU) def. Caroline Henderson (KU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
Luca Pump (WSU) def. Melinda Johnson (KU) 6-0, 6-4
Cordero (UNT) def. Jasmine Almaguer (KU) 2-6, 6-0, 7-6
Whitney Williams (ACU) def. Alexis Czapinski (KU) 6-2, 4-6, 6