Results

DALLAS, Texas --- The Wichita State women's tennis came away victorious (5-2) over SMU Saturday at the SMU Tennis Complex. The victory gives the Shockers their first win against an American Conference opponent in their inaugural season with the conference.

The Shockers (2-0) clinched the doubles point with No. 23 ranked Gabriela Porubin /Fatima Bizhukova defeating the Mustang tandem of Sarai Monarrez Yesaki/Ana Perez-Lopez in the first flight (6-2). Marta Bellucco teamed with Sandra Honigova for the Shockers to take down Nicole Petchey/Anzhelika Shapovalova (6-2) in the third flight to clinch the victory. In the second flight, Liza Buss/Karina Traxler of SMU led Giulia Guidetti/Sarvi Saidhujaeva (5-3) before going unfinished due to the point being clinched.
 
Ninth-year head coach Colin Foster was pleased with the teams ability to compete and come away with the doubles point. "As usual in these types of matches the doubles point is crucial. We put two inexperienced teams together at two and three and they rose to the occasion, and Gabriela and Fatima continue to play at a high level," said head coach Colin Foster.

WSU went 4-2 in singles play. Freshman Sarvi Saidhujaeva was the first to finish for the Shockers. Saidhujaeva faced Sarai Monarrez Yesaki in the sixth flight and came up just short (6-3, 7-5). In flights five and four, the Shockers rolled with two straight wins. Sophomore Marta Bellucco defeated Nicole Petchey in straight sets (6-4, 6-3).

Sandra Honigova a junior from Czech Republic, earned her second victory as a Shocker over Ana Perez-Lopez (6-1, 7-5). Foster was pleased with the performance of Honigova, who missed all of last season. " I'm especially happy for Sandra who had to sit out one year and has been patiently waiting to make her Shocker debut. She played a very fierce, composed match against a strong opponent," said Foster.

It was a battle in the first three flights, all of which reached three sets. Senior Gabriela Porubin dropped the first set (6-3) against Anzhelika Shapovalova but battled back in the second (6-3), to force a third. Shapovalova took an early lead in third and won the set (6-3).  Senior Giulia Guidetti, from Italy, clinched the dual for the Shockers in the second flight. Giudetti won the first set over Karina Traxler (6-3), before Traxler won the second 7-5(5). Guidetti would run away with the third (6-0) to win the match. In the last match to finish, Fatima Bizhukova won in three sets over the Mustangs' No. 1, Liza Buss, (5-7, 6-2, 6-4).  

"In singles it was a great competition, and a great level, across all six courts. We didn't let up from start to finish and even in the matches we lost we were fighting to the last ball," Foster said.

The win for the Shockers moves their overall record against SMU to 5-2. WSU is 4-1 under head coach Colin Foster against the Mustangs, and 3-0 all-time at SMU. The two met a season ago, when WSU went to Dallas and beat then No. 43 ranked SMU, 5-2. The Shockers move to 2-0 on the season. SMU falls to 0-1. WSU defeated Stephen F. Austin yesterday, 7-0. Three of the last four seasons, the Shockers have started the season 2-0.

UP NEXT:
The Shockers will next be in action Jan. 26-27 in Lubbock, Texas, at the ITA Kick-off Weekend. WSU will face FIU in its first match on Friday at 2 p.m.
 

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Wichita State 5 SMU 2
Singles Competition

1.Fatima Bizhukova (WSU) def. Liza Buss (SMU), 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
2.Giulia Guidetti (WSU) def. Karina Traxler (SMU), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-0
3.Anzehelika Shapovalova (SMU) def. Gabriela Porubin (WSU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
4.Sandra Honigova (WSU) def. Ana Perez-Lopez (SMU), 6-1, 7-5
5.Marta Bellucco (WSU) def. Nicole Petchey (SMU), 6-4, 6-3
6.Sarai Monarrez Yesaki (SMU) def. Sarvi Saidhujaeva (WSU) 6-3, 7-5)

Doubles Competition

1. #23 Gabriela Porubin/Fatima Bizhukova (WSU) def. Sarai Monarrez Yesaki/Ana Perez-Lopez (SMU), 6-2
2.Liza Buss/Karina Traxler (SMU) Giulia Guidett/Sarvi Saidhujaeva (WSU), 5-3, unfinished
3.Marta Bellucco/Sandra Honigova (WSU) def. Nicole Petchey/Anzhelika Shapovalova (SMU), 6-2

Order of Finish: Singles: (6,5,4,3,2,1) Doubles: (1,3)