MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Kansas State women’s tennis started its 2011 fall schedule on Friday at the 36th annual Milwaukee Tennis Classic. The Wildcats secured a pair of doubles victories over Western Michigan in the morning session, while South Carolina got the better of K-State’s singles’ lineup.
In doubles action on Friday morning against Western Michigan, K-State registered two wins in three doubles matches. The pair of sophomore Petra Niedermayerova and junior Ana Gomez Aleman rolled to an 8-1 win over Kathleen Hawkins and Jill Pastunink. This was the first time head coach Steve Bietau has used this combination of Niedermayerova and Gomez Aleman.
In the other doubles win for K-State, senior Petra Chuda was paired with freshman Marketa Trousilova. The first time pairing set down the Broncos’ tandem of April Kerr and Miloslava Shustova, 8-4.
Facing South Carolina in singles play, K-State was unable to muster a victory but extended a pair of matches to three sets. Niedermayerova, ranked No. 35 in the preseason Campbell/ITA national singles rankings, dropped a tough match to No. 30 Anya Morgina, 7-6, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7).
Ironically in Niedermayerova’s career debut last season, she fell in three sets at this same event in her opening match to South Carolina’s Dijana Stojic including a third-set of 10-7. Niedermayerova’s career record now stands at 24-11.
In K-State’s other three-set loss, Gomez Aleman was edged out by No. 68 Stojic, 3-6, 6-0, 1-0 (10-7). Gomez Aleman is now 31-36 in her career and 12-7 in three-set matches.
Kansas State will continue action at the 36th annual Milwaukee Tennis Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats will face Marquette in doubles play at 1 p.m., followed by singles action against Western Michigan at 3 p.m.
