Short-handed Kansas University was no match for Oklahoma State’s 14th-ranked tennis team.

Forced because of illness to play a player short, the Jayhawks suffered a 4-0 Senior Day loss to the Cowgirls on Sunday at Jayhawk Tennis Center.

“I thought we fought extremely hard against a great team today,” Kansas coach Todd Chapman said. “It was obviously an emotional Senior Day, and playing a player down, I thought we did incredibly well in terms of competitiveness. We tied for second in the Big 12 Conference. We knew that if we won today we’d be outright in second place, but it’s been almost 20 years since we’ve even tied for second in the conference, so this group has done incredibly well.”

KU’s only victory on the day came at No. 2 doubles, where Maria Jose Cardona and Anastasiya Rychagova teamed for a 6-3 victory over Viktoriya Lushkova and Carla Tur Mari.

But OSU won at No. 1 doubles and received a forfeit at No. 3 to clinch the doubles point.

Oklahoma State then picked up on-court wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles and a forfeit at No. 6 to clinch the match.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the five players who competed today,” Chapman said. “We gave ourselves a chance, but Oklahoma State is one of the best doubles teams in the country. We put Maria and Anastasiya together for the first time today, and they went out there and beat a nationally ranked team and did it very well. I thought it was unbelievable.”

KU honored Cardona, its lone senior, after the match.

The Jayhawks will begin play in the Big 12 Championship on Friday in Stillwater, Okla.

Doubles

Maria Alvarez-Kelsey Laurente, OSU, def. Nina Khmelnitckaia-Janet Koch, 6-3

Maria Jose Cardona-Anastasiya Rychagova, KU, def. Viktoriya Lushkova-Carla Tur Mari, 6-3

Katarina Adamovic-Vladica Babic, OSU, won by forfeit

Singles

Rychagova, KU, vs. Adamovic, 6-7 (8), 4-1, unfinished

Babic, OSU, def. Smith Hinton, 6-4, 6-4

Lushkova, OSU, def. Koch, 6-7 (3), 6-3

Khmelnitckaia, KU, vs. Laurente, 6-3, 2-6, 2-4, unfinished

Cardona, KU, vs. Mari, unfinished

Alvarez, OSU, won by forfeit