WICHITA, Kan. – The WSU women's tennis team defeated a ranked opponent in dramatic fashion for the second time in as many matches. On Saturday, the Shockers beat No. 55 Fresno State 4-3, and on Sunday, the Shockers took down No. 42 Illinois 4-3, with both wins taking place at the Wichita Country Club in Wichita. Sunday's win improved the Shockers' record to 4-2 on the season while No. 42 Illinois fell to 4-2. Wichita State is now on a four dual-match winning streak.
Melissa Kopinski/Alexis Casati of No. 42 Illinois won 6-3 against Lucia Kovalova/Veronika Blaskova of WSU to begin the doubles play portion of the dual-match. Wichita State would go on to win the next two doubles matches to secure the doubles point.
Rebecca Pedrazzi/Montse Blasco Fernandez of Wichita State then earned a 6-3 victory over Allison Falkin/Jerricka Boone. Abby Stevens/Julia Schiller took down Misia Kedzierski/Louise Kwong 6-4 to give the Shockers the crucial 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
Kwong tied the match at one apiece when she defeated Blaskova 6-2, 6-1 to begin singles play. A Schiller 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 victory against Kopinski put the Shockers back on top, 2-1.
The next two singles matches were won by the Fighting Illini. Casati defeated Kovalova 3-6, 6-4, 10-2, and Falkin captured a 2-6, 7-5, 13-11 win over Pedrazzi. In a matter of matches, the Shockers went from up 2-1 to down 3-2.
On Saturday, the Shockers were down 3-1 to No. 55 Fresno State, only to come from behind and win by the 4-3 final. Stevens, Pedrazzi and Blasco Fernandez earned the last three singles points to complete Saturday's comeback. WSU would have to rely on Stevens and Blasco Fernandez again, but this time, to compete their comeback against the Fighting Illini.
Stevens won 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 over Boone to tie the dual-match a three apiece. Blasco Fernandez had to wait over two hours to play against Julia Jamieson due to the court configuration. She also had to wait two hours to play her singles match against Tanya Murtagh of No. 55 Fresno State, but both match outcomes were the same—decisive wins during the final singles match of the day to propel Wichita State to victory.
On Saturday, Blasco Fernandez won 6-3, 6-1 against Murtagh to clinch the dual-match while on Sunday, she defeated Jamieson 6-1, 6-3 to give WSU the win.
WSU women's tennis head coach Colin Foster was proud of his team's performance.
“I'm just really proud of the effort and belief this group has in themselves and each other,” Foster said. “Everyone is fighting and giving themselves a chance to win. Schiller, Stevens and Blasco Fernandez played beautifully again on Sunday. I know Blaskova and Kovalova, who struggled this weekend, are determined to get back on court and it'll be their turn down the road to come through in close matches like these.
“We play a difficult non-conference schedule to give us opportunities to get into the rankings and to prepare us physically for conference play. Missouri and UT-Arlington are both strong programs and we're looking forward to those challenges next weekend.”
WSU's next matches will be on Sunday, Feb. 16 and Monday, Feb. 17 against Missouri and UT-Arlington respectively. Both matches will take place at the Wichita Country Club in Wichita at 10 a.m.
-WICHITA STATE-
Wichita State 4, #42 Illinois 3
Singles Competition
1. Julia Schiller (WSUW) def. Melissa Kopinski (ILL) 6-4, 4-6, 10-6
2. Allison Falkin (ILL) def. Rebecca Pedrazzi (WSUW) 2-6, 7-5, 13-11
3. Alexis Casati (ILL) def. Lucia Kovalova (WSUW) 3-6, 6-4, 10-2
4. Abby Stevens (WSUW) def. Jerricka Boone (ILL) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
5. Louise Kwong (ILL) def. Veronika Blaskova (WSUW) 6-2, 6-1
6. Montse B. Fernandez (WSUW) def. Julia Jamieson (ILL) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Melissa Kopinski/Alexis Casati (ILL) def. Lucia Kovalova/Veronika Blaskova (WSUW) 6-3
2. Rebecca Pedrazzi/Montse B. Fernandez (WSUW) def. Allison Falkin/Jerricka Boone (ILL) 6-3
3. Abby Stevens/Julia Schiller (WSUW) def. Misia Kedzierski/Louise Kwong (ILL) 6-4
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,1,3,2,4,6)
