The West Virginia University tennis team lost to No. 75 Kansas State, 4-3, in Manhattan, Kansas, on Saturday.
West Virginia (13-8, 2-7 Big 12) was unable to rally from a 3-1 deficit as it lost its third match in a row.
In doubles play, the Mountaineers battled with the Wildcats. The pairing of junior Michaela Kucharova and senior Momoko Nagato won, 6-3, in the No. 1 spot.
The No. 2 seed pairing of freshman Maya Bordereau and redshirt sophomore Maja Dodik fought back and forth with Kansas State’s Maralgoo Chogsomjav and Maria Santos. Unfortunately, the pairing lost, 7-6 (1), as Kansas State took the doubles point.
Bordereau was defeated, 6-2, 6-4, in the No. 2 spot. Despite trailing, the Mountaineers found a groove in singles play.
Junior Tatiana Lipatova earned the first win of the day in the No. 6 seed match, defeating Kansas State’s Maria Santos, 6-1, 6-3. WVU fell behind, 3-1, as Dodik lost in the No. 4 seed match, 6-4, 6-1.
Kucharova was dominant for West Virginia, winning in the No. 5 spot, 6-3, 6-3. Nagato tied things up at 3-3, with a win in the No. 3 seed match.
In the No. 1 seed match, graduate student Love-Star Alexis won the first set, 6-3. However, Alexis was unable to hold the advantage as she lost the match and Kansas State earned the win.
Doubles Results
- Michaela Kucharova/Momoko Nagato (WVU) def. Veronika Kulhava/Tereza Polakova (KSU), 6-3
- Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Maria Santos (KSU) def. Maya Bordereau/Maja Dodik (WVU), 7-6 (1)
- Jillian Harkin/Manami Ukita (KSU) def. Ting-Pei Chang/Tatiana Lipatova (WVU), 6-3
Singles Results
- Vanesa Suarez (KSU) def. Love-Star Alexis (WVU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
- Charlotte Keitel (KSU) def. Maya Bordereau (WVU), 6-2, 6-4
- Momoko Nagato (WVU) def. Veronika Kulhava (KSU), 6-4, 6-3
- Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Maja Dodik (WVU), 6-4, 6-1
- Michaela Kucharova (WVU) def. Tereza Polakova (KSU), 6-3, 6-3
- Tatiana Lipatova (WVU) def. Maria Santos (KSU), 6-1, 6-3
West Virginia will face Kansas on Friday, April 5, in Morgantown and Iowa State on Sunday, April 7. The match against the Cyclones will serve as senior day for the Mountaineers.
