Maria Belen Luduena Named Big 12 Women's Tennis Player of the Week

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas senior Maria Belen Luduena was named the Big 12 Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week Tuesday afternoon, the league office announced. Luduena, a native of Curico’, Chile, is the first Jayhawk to nab the award since Christine Skoda took home the award in 2005.
 
Luduena led Kansas to back-to-back wins over Iowa State and West Virginia as she collected three wins last weekend. Paired up with freshman Alexis Czapinski for the first time in her career in doubles play, Luduena pulled out an important win on court one against West Virginia, in helping KU secure the doubles point and momentum heading into singles play versus the Mountaineers.
 
Luduena, sealed the victory against the Mountaineers for Kansas, downing Kaja Mrgole in a three-set decision. After dropping the first set, 3-6, Luduena clawed her way back to steal the second set from an exasperated Mrgole, 6-4, forcing a third set. After jumping out 4-0 in the third set, Luduena eventually outlasted Mrgole, 6-0, clinching Kansas’ second-consecutive victory.
 
In KU’s win over Iowa State, Luduena topped Iowa State’s top singles player, Samantha Budai, in straight-sets, 6-3, 6-4, giving Kansas a 2-1 lead over the Cyclones. The Jayhawks went on to defeat ISU, 4-1.  
 
Luduena and her Jayhawk opponents will hit the road for a pair of matches as they travel to Texas to take on North Texas and SMU. The Jayhawks will play at North Texas on Friday, March 27 and at SMU on Saturday, March 28. First serve at North Texas is slated for 3 p.m.
 
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