SALT LAKE CITY - No. 61 Utah squeezed past No. 74 Wichita State in a 4-3 decision on Friday, finishing the Shockers' five-game road stretch to open the season.
The Shockers (1-4) bounced back from a loss in the No. 3 doubles match, winning the top two positions to take the doubles point and the early lead.
Senior
Stephanie Dalmacio and sophomore
Delia Damaschin won their second match in as many attempts together when they knocked off Erin Monson and Andrea Maughan in the No. 1 spot, 8-6. They followed up seniors
Lenore Lazaroiu and
Florentina Hanisch's 8-3 victory against Missy Harris and Paige Miles at the No. 2 position.
The Utes (2-3) swung the lead back in their favor with back-to-back wins in the No. 6 and No. 5 slots. Lisa Johnson defeated Shocker freshman Iasmine Carpen, 6-0, 3-0 when Carpen retired for the day. Utah's Maughan took charge of the No. 5 match, defeating sophomore
Lily Wakim, 6-0, 6-0.
WSU never stopped battling and grabbed wins in the No. 3 and top spots. Without their No. 1 and nationally-ranked No. 28 singles player
Lutfiana Budiharto, Dalmacio stepped up again to fill the role, pushing her record to 3-1 when she leads the lineup.
Dalmacio used straight sets to beat Monson, 6-4, 7-5 in the No. 1 position while Damaschin did the same in the No. 3 match. She ousted Miles, 6-3, 7-5.
Despite their effort, the damage had already been done. Wins from Evgenia Kryuchkova and Missy Harris against Lazaroiu and Hanisch, respectively, sealed the win for Utah.
"Our ladies continue to battle," Head Coach
Colin Foster. "It's just a matter of playing solid tennis on the same day and I'm confident these close matches are going to start going our way."
The Shocks open their home schedule on Feb. 13 at noon against the Nittany Lions of Penn State.
#61 Utah 4, #74 Wichita State 3Doubles1. Damaschin/Dalmacio (WICHITA) def. Monson/Maughan (UT) 8-6
2. Hanisch/Lazaroiu (WICHITA) def. Harris/Miles (UT) 8-3
3. Kryuchkova/Johnson (UT) def. Wakim/Carpen (WICHITA) 8-1
Singles1.
Stephanie Dalmacio (WICHITA) def. Erin Monson (UT) 6-4, 7-5
2. Evgenia Kryuchkova (UT) def.
Lenore Lazaroiu (WICHITA) 6-0, 6-2
3. Delia Damaschiin (WICHITA) def. Paige Miles (UT) 6-3, 7-5
4. Missy Harris (UT) def.
Florentina Hanisch (WICHITA) 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Andrea Maughan (UT) def.
Lily Wakim (WICHITA) 6-0, 6-0
6. Lisa Johnson (UT) def. Isamine Carpen (WICHITA) 6-0, 3-0, retired
-Wichita State-