After losing 6-1 against Iowa, Kansas battled back with a win in the second half of a home doubleheader Sunday, defeating South Dakota 7-0.

“It is tough to lose the way we did,” assistant coach German Dalmagro said. “We lost, but at the same time, I think we played some very good matches, so we try to come out and make it up. You can always learn. I think they bounced back really well against South Dakota.”

Iowa was led by sophomore Sonja Molnar who is ranked No. 65 in singles by the Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

“Molnar sits behind the baseline and hits a lot of balls,” Dalmagro said. “She makes it hard.”

In doubles, Molnar and junior Lynne Poggensee-Wei faced sophomore Kate Morozova and freshman Sara Lazarevic.

The match went into a tiebreaker with Iowa winning 9-8. The match was fast-paced and hard-played. Morozova went on to face Molnar in singles where she kept the first set tight, forcing a tiebreaker, but lost 7-6, 6-1 to the nationally ranked Molnar.

“She is a fighter, she is a grinder and she makes a lot of balls,” Dalmagro said. “She made her earn every point. And Kate, she is tough. She did a good job hanging in there and playing well.”

For their matches against South Dakota, Kansas switched into their pink jerseys that were debuted in their battle with UMKC, and they swept all matches — both singles and doubles.

The doubles team of Morozova and freshman Vika Khanevskaya were the only team to win in doubles in both matches.

Sophomore Erin Wilbert went undefeated in singles for both matches on the day.

“I just kept trying and it felt good to win. I felt like I played well,” Wilbert said. “The team, we fought really hard.”

She attributed her success to staying positive all day.

“I feel like I always play better when I can pump myself up and use a lot of energy,” Wilbert said. “I think that is probably what I did well today staying positive and motivated.”

Junior Kate Goff played in her first spring match, and won 8-2 with sophomore Erin Wilbert at the No. 3 doubles spot in the match against South Dakota. Goff did not play against Iowa, but filled in for freshman Sara Lazarevic who did not play against South Dakota because of illness.

The Jayhawks will travel to play the University of Tulsa next Sunday.

— Edited by Jesse Rangel