Women’s Tennis Drops First of Three Matches

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Wildcats were off to a rocky start this morning on Friday, Feb. 17 in the first of three away matches at Kansas University. The Jayhawks defeated Arizona 4-2, taking the doubles point and three singles matches. 

Parker Fry and Salma Ziouti fell 6-4 to H. Janse Van Vuuren and Malika Ngounoue at one doubles followed by Kayla Wilkins and Reece Carter who also lost 6-4 to Joceyln Massey and Carmen Roxana Manu at three doubles. 

It was a quick singles competition with every match ending in straight sets. Freshman Carter, playing at three singles for the first time this spring, defeated Manu 6-3, 6-2 to tie up the overall score. Then Fry put Arizona one point ahead with her 6-1, 6-3 win over Massey at six singles. 

Maria Titova, a Jayhawk sophomore from Russia, bested Ziouti 6-2, 6-4 at two singles to tie the overall match score once again. Kansas was back in the lead after Castillo fell 7-5, 6-1 to #46 in the country Ngounoue at one singles. Janse Van Vuuren clinched the match for KU after defeating freshman Tanvi Narendran 6-4, 6-4 at four singles. 

The Wildcats are back at it tonight to start their match against Texas Tech with a doubles contest at 4 p.m. MT. 

Results

Kansas 4, University of Arizona 2

Singles competition

1. Ngounoue, Malkia (KU23) def. Midori Castillo-Meza (ARIZ23) 7-5, 6-1

2. Titova, Maria (KU23) def. Salma Ziouti (ARIZ23) 6-2, 6-4

3. Reece Carter (ARIZ23) def. Manu, Carmen Roxana (KU23) 6-3, 6-2

4. Gagoshidze, Tamari (KU23) vs. Kayla Wilkins (ARIZ23) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished

5. Janse Van Vuuren, H (KU23) def. Tanvi Narendran (ARIZ23) 6-4, 6-4

6. Parker Fry (ARIZ23) def. Massey, Jocelyn (KU23) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Janse Van Vuuren, H/Ngounoue, Malkia (KU23) def. Parker Fry/Salma Ziouti (ARIZ23) 6-4

2. Titova, Maria/Gagoshidze, Tamari (KU23) vs. Midori Castillo-Meza/Belen Nevenhoven (ARIZ23) 5-3, unfinished 3. Massey, Jocelyn/Manu, Carmen Roxana (KU23) def. Kayla Wilkins/Reece Carter (ARIZ23) 6-4