#44 Women’s Tennis Downed By #8 Kansas

The 44th ranked Air Force women's tennis team dropped a 7-0 dual at #8 Kansas, its first loss of the season, Sunday morning in Lawrence, Kan. The Falcons are now 15-1 on the season, snapping their best start to the season and longest winning streak in program history.

The Falcons faced three ranked opponents in doubles. Air Force's No. 1 doubles duo of TJ Fumagalli and Kristin Kerrigan dropped a 6-4 match to #3 Janet Koch/Nina Khmelnitckaia. Ashleigh Harvey and Meredith Jones fell at No. 2 doubles to #51 Anastasia Rychagova/Sonia Smagina 6-2.

Fumagalli fell at No. 1 singles to #47 Rychagova 6-0, 6-3. Elizabeth Barnickel fell at No. 2 singles to #79 Koch 6-1, 6-2. At No. 3 singles, Jones fell to Khmelnitckaia 6-1, 6-3. At No. 4, Kerrigan fell to Maria Toran Ribas 7-5, 6-4. At No. 5, Ashley Harvey fell to Sonia Smagina 6-2, 6-3. At No 6, Nadeen Lieberman fell to Malkia Ngounoue 6-4, 6-3.

"Kansas is very well coached and has a great program," Air Force head coach Kim Gidley said. "This is highest ranked team we have played in program history. Having to face three ranked doubles teams, we came up short with the momentum. We saved match points at No. 1 and 2 and just didn't have enough time to finish at No. 3. In singles, we competed well but were never able to capitalize on the big points. This was a great match for our team to see what it takes to be one of the very best in the country. We can learn some things from this match and continue to move forward. We have a lot of tennis left and I will take where this team is at in the season."

Air Force returns to action March 3, hosting Drake.

Women - #44 AIR FORCE vs. #8 Kansas, Feb. 24 - Kansas 4-0
Doubles
#3 Janet Koch/Nina Khmelnitckaia (KU) def. TJ Fumagalli/Kristin Kerrigan (AF) 6-4
#51 Anastasia Rychagova/Sonia Smagina (KU) def. Ashleigh Harvey/Meredith Jones (AF) 6-2
#39 Maria Toran Ribas/Malkia Ngounoue (KU) vs Nadeen Lieberman/Elizabeth Barnickel (AF), 5-4 DNF
Order of finish: 2, 1

Singles
#47 Anastasia Rychagova (KU) def. TJ Fumagalli (AF) 6-0, 6-3
#79 Janet Koch (KU) def. Elizabeth Barnickel (AF) 6-1, 6-2
Nina Khmelnitckaia (KU) def. Meredith Jones (AF) 6-1, 6-3
Maria Toran Ribas (KU) vs. Kristin Kerrigan (AF) 7-5, 6-4
Sonia Smagina (KU) def. Ashley Harvey (AF) 6-2, 6-3
Malkia Ngounoue (KU) vs Nadeen Lieberman (AF) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1, 5, 6, 4

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Players Mentioned

Elizabeth Barnickel

TJ Fumagalli

Ashleigh Harvey

Meredith Jones

Kristin Kerrigan

Nadeen Lieberman

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