For the first time in nearly a year, the Kansas women's tennis team played at the Jayhawk Tennis Center. KU dropped a 5-2 decision to Denver on Friday in its long-awaited return.

Denver claimed the early advantage with a win in doubles, as Taylor Melville and Hada Change defeated KU's tandem of Malkia Ngounoue and Carmen Roxana Manu by a 6-0 margin. Denver captured the doubles point on court three, with Tatum Burger and Anna Riedmiller of Denver earned a 6-2 win over Tiffany Legarde and Julia Deming of Kansas.

Kansas sophomore Vasiliki Karvouni claimed the first point by defeating Denver’s Tatum Burger in straight sets (7-5, 6-0) in singles action. Denver then rattled off three straight wins to secure the match at 4-1.

With two courts in progress, KU's Sonia Smagina battled through three sets to defeat Denver's Taylor Melville on court one. Smagina only dropped the second set (6-0, 7-6, 6-1) of its eventual victory.

Kansas (1-2) will host Wichita State at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Denver 5, Kansas 2

Doubles competition

1. Taylor Melville/Hada Chang (DEN) def. Malkia Ngounoue/Carmen Roxana Manu (KAN) 6-0
2. Sonia Smagina/Vassiliki Karvouni (KAN) vs. Britt Pursell/Camille V-Anderson (DEN) unfinished
3. Anna Riedmiller/Tatum Burger (DEN) def. Tiffany Lagarde/Julia Deming (KAN) 6-2

Singles competition

1. Sonia Smagina (KAN) def. Taylor Melville (DEN) 6-0, 6-7, 6-1
2. Anna Riedmiller (DEN) def. Malkia Ngounoue (KAN) 7-5, 6-4
3. Britt Pursell (DEN) def. Carmen Roxana Manu (KAN) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
4. Vassiliki Karvouni (KAN) def. Tatum Burger (DEN) 7-5, 6-0
5. Camille V-Anderson (DEN) def. Tiffany Lagarde (KAN) 6-4, 6-2
6. Toni Nelson (DEN) def. Julia Deming (KAN) 3-6, 6-5, 9-8 (9-8)