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 Chang defeated KU’s duo of Malkia Ngounoue and Carmen Roxana Manu, 6-0. Denver also won on court three, where Tatum Burger and Anna Riedmiller of Denver earned a 6-2 win over Tiffany Lagarde and Julia Deming.

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

With two courts in progress, KU’s Sonia Smagina battled through three sets to defeat Melville on court one. Smagina only dropped the second set (6-0, 7-6, 6-1) in the 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/Vasiliki Karvouni (KAN) vs. Britt Pursell/Camille Verden-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. Vasiliki Karvouni (KAN) def. Tatum Burger (DEN) 7-5, 6-0

5. Camille Verden-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)