WICHITA - Wichita State (5-9) relied on the power of its seniors to mount a comeback against the TCU Horned Frogs (2-11) but came just shy of the victory on Friday afternoon, 4-3.
TCU jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after sweeping the doubles point and claiming the No. 6 singles match. Trailing 3-1, all three Shocker seniors remained on the court fighting for the win. With Stephanie Dalmacio and Florentina Hanisch winning handily in their third sets, Lenore Lazaroiu lost her effort to take her match to a third set by just two games to give the Horned Frogs the victory.
The Frogs swiped the momentum early, taking all three doubles matches to claim the 1-0 lead. Changing up the doubles lineup slightly, freshman Iasmine Carpen teamed up with senior Florentina Hanisch in the No. 3 position. The duo took on Idunn Hertzberg and Gaby Mastromarino, but fell, 8-3.
TCU went on to take both the No. 1 and 2 positions by an 8-4 margin. The sophomore/senior tandem of Lenore Lazaroiu and Lutfiana Budiharto dropped the No. 2 match to Nina Munch-Soegaard and Maria Babanova while No. 22 Stephanie Dalmacio and Delia Damaschin fell in the No. 1 spot to Katariina Tuohimaa and Kayla Duncan.
Unfazed by the early deficit, Damaschin started the Shocker rally with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win in the No. 4 match against Hertzberg. No. 34 Budiharto couldn't find her usual groove on Friday afternoon, falling to TCU's No. 1 Munch-Soegaard, 6-0, 6-4, to give the Shockers a 3-1 deficit for the seniors to climb.
While Dalmacio fought back from a first set loss against Duncan in the No. 2 match, Babanova forced a third set against Hanisch in the No. 5 match. Both seniors went to work, jumping out to commanding leads. With both leading 5-1, the match rested on Lazaroiu's fight against Tuohimaa in the No. 3 spot.
Unfortunately for the Shockers, Tuohimaa capitalized on an opportunity after falling behind to seal the 6-3, 7-5 win.
The Shockers are in action again on Sunday when they play host to No. 4 Notre Dame. The first serve is set for 12 p.m. at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex.
Singles Results
1. No. 89 Nina Munch-Soegaard (TCU) def. No. 34 Lutfiana Budiharto (WSU), 6-0, 6-4
2. Stephanie Dalmacio (WSU) def. No. 88 Kayla Duncan (TCU), 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
3. No. 100 Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Lenore Lazaroiu (WSU), 6-3, 7-5
4. Delia Damaschin (WSU) def. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Florentina Hanisch (WSU) def. Maria Babanova (TCU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
6. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) def. Lily Wakim (WSU), 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 1, 3, 2, 5
Doubles Results
1. No. 58 Tuohimaa/Duncan (TCU) def. No. 22 Dalmacio/Damaschin (WSU), 8-4
2. Munch-Soegaard/Babanova (TCU) def. Lazaroiu/Budiharto (WSU), 8-4
3. Hertzberg/Mastromarino (TCU) def. Carpen/Hanisch (WSU), 8-3
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
-Wichita State-