Iowa State tennis continues to struggle in singles action at Kansas Invitational

Maty+Cancini+returns+a+serve+while+her+then-partner+Sami+Budai+stands+ready+at+the+net.+Budai+and+Cancini+played+first+doubles+against+Oklahoma+on+April+21%2C+2017%2C+at+Forker+Tennis+Courts.+First+doubles+went+on+to+win+6-2+and+was+the+sole+winning+doubles+team+for+Iowa+State.

Maty Cancini returns a serve while her then-partner Sami Budai stands ready at the net. Budai and Cancini played first doubles against Oklahoma on April 21, 2017, at Forker Tennis Courts. First doubles went on to win 6-2 and was the sole winning doubles team for Iowa State.

Gavin Ray

Saturday welcomed the second day of the 2020 Kansas Invitational, when Iowa State looked to rebound from its day one struggles.

Maty Cancini, once again, was the only bright spot for the Cyclones’ singles action. She won her matchup against Kansas State’s Margot Decker 6-1 for the first set and 6-0 in the second. This moves Cancini to 4-1 this fall.

Ting-Pei Chang from Iowa State lost her match to Vasiliki Karvouni of Kansas in two sets by a score of 7-5 and 6-3, respectively.

Manami Ukita from Kansas State took down Chie Kezuka from Iowa State again in just two sets by scores of 6-2 and 6-4, as well as Ellie Murphy from the Cyclones by scores of 6-2 and 6-3.

The Cyclone struggles continued as Christin Hsieh lost in two sets by scores of 6-3 and 6-2 against Kansas State’s Lilla Barzo. 

Cancini and Hsieh teamed up to take down Malkia Ngounoue and Carmen Roxana Manu from Kansas 7-5 to start off Iowa State’s doubles action.

However, Cancini and Hsieh lost their second doubles match as they faced off against Maria Linares and Karine-Marion Job out of Kansas State and lost 6-4.

Murphy and Chang had a strong doubles performance as they won both their matches.

Ukita and Decker were taken down by Murphy and Chang by a score of 6-4. Ioana Gheorghita and Rosanna Maffei from Kansas State were narrowly beaten by Murphy and Chang by a score of 7-6 (3). 

Iowa State will look to build on their doubles success Saturday as they head into the last day of the Kansas Invitational on Sunday.