LINCOLN, Neb. - The No. 70 Shockers ended a difficult season-opening road stretch on Saturday morning, falling to the No. 64 Golden Gophers in their second close match in as many days, 4-3.

"All weekend we put ourselves in the position to win matches , and for the most part we came through and finished off those opportunities," Head Coach Colin Foster said. "The ladies accepted the challenge head on today and came up just short."

Wichita State opened the match with the disadvantage, losing all three doubles matches. In the No. 1 slot, sophomore Lutfiana Budiharto and senior Stephanie Dalmacio couldn't overcome Alessandra Ferrazzi and Alexa Palen, 9-7.

The senior tandem of Florentina Hanisch and Lenore Lazaroiu fought Tijana Koprivica and Jackie Sperling all the way through the tiebreak, but the Gopher duo took the match, 8-7 (4).

Still finding their groove playing as partners, freshman Iasmine Carpen and sophomore Delia Damaschin held their own but lost a close 8-6 decision to Doron Muravnik and Mariana Spilca.

Unfazed, the Shockers went to work in singles play, picking up victories in the No. 1, 3 and 4 positions. All three of those slots are filled by the Shockers' senior class, which came as no surprise to Foster, who praised his seniors ability to lead his team.

Filling in once again for the injured Budiharto, Dalmacio did just that, coming from behind to defeat Koprivica in the No. 1 position, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 10-8.

"Steph has continued to raise her level above that of her opponents," Foster said. "It's great to see the hard work she has been putting in pay off in match results."

Lazaroiu and Hanisch filled their role as senior leaders, as well. Lazaroiu took the No. 3 match in straight sets against Palen, 6-4, 6-3. Hanisch used a third-set tie break but flew through it on her way to a victory over Sperling at No. 4, 6-4, 3-6, 10-1.

Unfortunately for the Shockers, losses in the No. 2, 5 and 6 positions kept them from getting their first win against a ranked opponent. At No. 2, Damaschin fell to Ferrazzi, 6-2, 6-3. Newcomer Iasmine Carpen went down quickly against Magdalena Wiecha, 6-1, 6-0. Sophomore Lily Wakim battled but couldn't push off Peta Forsyth, 6-4, 6-3.

The Shockers are on the road again on Feb. 4 when they head to Utah to take on BYU.

Doubles
1. Ferrazzi/Palen (MIN) def. Budiharto/Dalmacio (WSU), 9-7
2. Koprivica/Sperling (MIN) def. Lazaroiu/Hanisch (WSU) 8-7 (7-4)
3. Muravnik/Spilca (MIN) def. Carpen/Damaschin (WSU) 8-6

Singles
1. Dalmacio (WSU) def. Koprivica (MIN), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 10-8
2. Ferrazzi (MIN) def. Damaschin (WSU), 6-2, 6-3
3. Lazaroiu (WSU) def. Palen (MIN), 6-4, 6-3
4. Hanisch (WSU) def. Sperling (MIN), 6-4, 3-6, 10-1
5. Wiecha (MIN) def. Carpen (WSU), 6-1, 6-0
6. Forsyth (MIN) def. Wakim (WSU), 6-4, 6-3