Rylan Howe

Freshman Lauren Hommell strikes a forehand shot during her No. 4 singles match. Hommell won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, but the Jayhawks fell short in their doubles matches and the no. 1-3 singles matches and lost the meet against Kansas State, 4-3, yesterday afternoon at Robinson Courts.

A lack of mental preparation and the inability to prevail in doubles play doomed the Kansas tennis team all afternoon, coaches said, as Kansas lost 4-3 against Kansas State yesterday at the Robinson Courts.

The Jayhawks (4-14, 3-5 Big 12 Conference) fell behind at the start of the match, failing to convert in doubles.

In fact, the Wildcats won 24 of 28 games in doubles, easily earning the doubles point.

With the overall match tied at 3-3, Kansas State junior Jessica Simosa defeated Kansas sophomore Brittany Brown, 6-0, 5-7, 6-1, giving the Wildcats their second straight conference victory.

“We finally realized how important the doubles point is,” Kansas coach Amy Hall-Holt said. “It could have made the biggest difference in our match today.”

Kansas assistant Frank Polito said the team would focus on doubles in practice tomorrow.

“We will go over doubles some more and keep going over it until we get it right,” he said.

The Jayhawks have lost five straight doubles points, contributing to their five straight losses.

The last time Kansas earned the doubles point, it knocked off Oklahoma State, 4-3, on March 13.

In singles, Kansas tallied three victories.

Kansas freshman Lauren Hommell blew past Kansas State freshman Tereza Prochazkova, 6-2, 6-1.

The match lasted less than an hour.

“I just played really well today,” Hommell said. “I’m getting more comfortable with coming into the net.”

Prior to yesterday’s singles victory, Hommell posted a 3-14 record in the spring.

“I just had to keep my focus,” she said. “I just played a lot smarter.”

Kansas freshman Stephanie Smith, who leads the team with 12 victories on the season, ousted Kansas State freshman Fernanda Da Valle, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

“I started off a little slower than I would have liked to,” Smith said. “I just got into my game and just started to compete hard.”

Also, Kansas sophomore Ashley Filberth swept Kansas state senior Judith Diaz, 6-2, 7-5.

Kansas State senior Maria Rosenberg downed Kansas freshman Elizaveta Avdeeva, 7-5, 6-4. Avdeeva, who led 4-1 in the first set, lost her serve on multiple service games as Rosenberg earned her 21st victory of the season.

Rosenberg is one victory shy of breaking the school’s all-time career wins record of 77.

Kansas Junior Christine Skoda fell in straight sets to Kansas State freshman Tamar Kvaratskhelia, 0-6, 6-7 (4).

With the victory, Kansas State improved to 8-7 on the season and 3-4 in the Big 12.

Despite the loss, the Jayhawks are making strides, Hall-Holt said.

“We are just short of the mental game,” Hall-Holt said. “If you look at tennis, its pretty much 70 percent mental and 30 percent talent.”

The Wildcats, who were 2-16 against the Jayhawks in Lawrence, won for just the sixth time in 53 attempts.

Next up for Kansas is a home match against Colorado on Saturday. Play will begin at 11 a.m.