NORMAL, Ill. - Wichita State's women's tennis team finished their weekend road trip with its second win in as many days, topping Illinois State on Sunday, 5-2.
The Shockers (10-10, 5-0) remained perfect in Missouri Valley Conference play with Sunday's victory. They started their bid for their fifth-straight win by picking up the doubles point at the No. 1 and 2 spots.
"We were tested today in the doubles and at certain spots in singles," Head Coach Colin Foster said. "We all responded well to the challenge."
Altering his doubles lineup again slightly, Foster paired sophomore Lutfiana Budiharto and senior Stephanie Dalmacio together at the No. 1 spot. The duo defeated Franziska Steinhardt and Julia Zubkova, 8-3, to tie the quest for the doubles point after sophomores Lily Wakim and Delia Damaschin fell to Ariane Mack and Natalia Lech, 8-3, in the No. 3 spot.
Senior tandem, Florentina Hanisch and Lenore Lazaroiu, swung the momentum in the Shockers' favor with their 9-7 win at the No. 2 position.
"Flor and Lenore are a great team," Foster said. "Even though they didn't play well today, they trusted themselves and each other when the match got tight and found a way to win. The doubles gave us great momentum going into singles."
In singles action, No. 49 Budiharto gave up just one game to Steinhardt, winning 6-0, 6-1 to set the pace for the Shockers. The Redbirds fought back using Hannah Eskers' win at the No. 6 position over Wakim, to get on the board.
Hanisch stopped the Redbird rally when she downed Maack at No. 5 spot, 6-2, 6-0 and Damaschin sealed the win, using a tie breaker in the No. 4 match to defeat Lech, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Lazaroiu bumped off Zubkova in the No. 3 spot, 6-4, 6-4 while Dalmacio battled her way through three sets, barely falling to Aniko Kiss in the No. 2 position, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to give the Shocks the 5-2 win.
"Lutfi continues to show she's one of the best players in the country," Foster said. "Even though Steph lost, the way she fights and battles for every point is contagious out there. She sets the tone for the way this whole team looks to outwork our Opponents. It was a great team win."
Singles Results
1. Lutfiana Budiharto (WSU) def. Franziska Steinhardt (ILS) 6-0, 6-1
2. Aniko Kiss (ILS) def. Stephanie Dalmacio (WSU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
3. Lenore Lazaroiu (WSU) def. Julia Zubkova (ILS) 6-4, 6-4
4. Delia Damaschin (WSU) def. Natalia Lech (ILS) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
5. Florentina Hanisch (WSU) def. Ariane Maack (ILS) 6-2, 6-0
6. Hannah Esker (ILS) def. Lily Wakim (WSU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Results
1. Budiharto/Dalmacio (WSU) def. Steinhardt/Zubkova (ILS) 8-3
2. Hanisch/Lazaroiu (WSU) def. Maack/Lech (ILS) 9-7
3. Esker/Peters (ILS) def. Wakim/Damaschin (WSU) 8-3
-Wichita State-
