With nicknames like “Corndog,” “Kimbo” and “Chez,” it’s pretty easy to tell that Kansas University’s tennis team is easy-going.

Such cool composure came in handy Saturday for the Jayhawks, especially for “Kimbo,” aka Kim Lorenz.

KU's Courtney Steinbock serves against Tulsa's No. 1 doubles team. Courtney and her twin sister, Kristen, lost 9-8, but the Jayhawks won, 4-3, on Saturday at Alvamar Racquet Club.

With the outcome squarely on her shoulders at Alvamar Racquet Club, Lorenz did what all her teammates knew she would, coming through with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Tulsa’s Zoe Buhagiar to secure a 4-3 victory for Kansas over the 51st-ranked Hurricanes.

Lucky for Lorenz, a junior from Omaha, Neb., she had no idea what was riding on her match.

“I didn’t even know it was for the win,” she said with a sigh of relief. “I thought we’d already lost, so I was just trying to get off the court.”

While Tulsa, which smashed the Jayhawks 6-1 last year, did seem overwhelming at times Saturday, a steady and constant comeback paid off for KU.

Lorenz’s victory was the only time the Jayhawks led Saturday, but that didn’t matter to second-year Kansas coach Kilmeny Waterman, whose team is off to its best start in her short stint at the helm.

“We’re very happy,” Waterman said. “They competed all the way through and deserved this win.”

Lorenz said she had no idea the pressure was on, despite the fact that both squads lined the adjacent court to cheer on their respective teammate.

The match flip-flopped sporadically, but in the end Lorenz’s strong crosscourt shots and some unforced errors by Buhagiar provided the difference.

That and keeping calm.

“This team is kind of enjoying it all, they have fun playing,” Waterman said. “If that style of play translates to looseness on the court and helps us win, we’ll take it.”

Another player that benefited from Tulsa coming to town Saturday was KU’s No. 1 singles player, Cheryl Mallaiah.

While Mallaiah remained winless this season by losing her doubles match to the Hurricanes, she rebounded by winning her singles match with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Alicia Pillay, the No. 4-ranked player in the Central Region.

“I told myself just do your best and whatever happens, happens,” said Mallaiah, who admitted she was a little nervous last weekend when she lost to Wichita State’s No. 1 player, Amanda Cervantes.

“I was definitely different mentally from last weekend. I was just trying to stay focused and tough.”

KU’s doubles team of Emily Haylock and Paige Brown also had a key doubles victory over Buhagiar and Aleksandra Durska, the No. 1 ranked player in the Central Region, winning, 8-2.

KU will try to continue its success on the road. The Jayhawks travel to Maryland and Ohio State next weekend.

“Those two will be really tough,” she said. “But this win gives us tremendous confidence.”

Kansas 4, Tulsa 3

Singles

Cheryl Mallaiah, KU, def Alicia Pillay, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Aleksandra Durska, UT, def. Emily Haylock, 6-2, 6-1.

Jana Sedivec, UT, def. Courtney Steinbock, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4).

Paige Brown, KU, def. Jahanna Zingman, 7-5, 6-3.

Aurelie Bajar, KU, def. Gabriela Zingman, 7-5, 6-2.

Kim Lorenz, KU, def. Zoe Buhagiar, 7-5, 6-3.

Doubles

Pillay/Sedivec, UT, def. C. Steinbock/K. Steinbock, 9-8.

Haylock/Brown, KU, def. Buhagiar/Durska, 8-2.

J. Zingman/G. Zingman, UT, def. Mallaiah/Bejar, 8-4.