WICHITA, Kan. – No. 54 Wichita State defeated Northern Iowa (UNI) 7-0 on Friday at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex in Wichita. The Shockers moved to 16-6 overall and 5-0 in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play while the Panthers dropped to 12-11 overall and 2-4 in MVC play. With Friday's win, the Shockers clinched a share of the 2014 MVC Regular Season Championship.
Doubles play began with Julia Schiller/Abby Stevens (No. 7 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Central Doubles Rankings) winning 8-1 against Krissy Lankelma/Jordyn Kearney at No. 3 doubles. The Shockers took the 1-0 dual-match lead after Lucia Kovalova/Veronika Blaskova earned an 8-4 victory over Jieke Stoobant/Erica Medlin at No. 1 doubles.
After the doubles point was clinched, Rebecca Pedrazzi/Montse Blasco Fernandez (No. 9 in the ITA's Central Doubles Rankings) took down Elvira Lopez/Astrid Santos 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.
At No. 6 singles, Blaskova won 6-1, 6-2 against Sydney Wolfe to push the Shocker advantage to 2-0 and at No. 1 singles, Schiller extended the lead to 3-0 after beating Medlin 6-2, 6-2.
Pedrazzi and Kovalova pushed the lead from 3-0 to 5-0 in favor of No. 54 Wichita State. While Pedrazzi defeated Stroobant 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 singles, Kovalova won 6-2, 6-1 in her match against Lopez at No. 3 singles.
Stevens and Blasco Fernandez earned the final two points of the match to push the Shockers to their 7-0 victory. As Stevens won her match 7-6(5), 6-4 over Santos at No. 4 singles, Blasco Fernandez ended the match with a 6-2, 5-7, 10-4 victory at No. 5 singles.
No. 54 Wichita State takes on Drake on Saturday at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex at 10 a.m. The Shockers' matchup against the Bulldogs will be Senior Day for Shocker seniors Montse Blasco Fernandez, Veronika Blaskova and Satjaporn Mahajaroenkul, as it will be the final home match of their careers.
If No. 54 Wichita State defeats Drake, they'll secure the No. 1 seed in next weekend's MVC Tournament Championship and win the MVC Regular Season Championship outright. Live stats will be available for Saturday's match, and the results will be posted after the completion of play.
-WICHITA STATE-
#54 Wichita State 7, Northern Iowa 0
Singles competition
1. Julia Schiller (WSUW) def. Erica Medlin (UNI) 6-2, 6-2
2. Rebecca Pedrazzi (WSUW) def. Jieke Stroobant (UNI) 6-4, 6-1
3. Lucia Kovalova (WSUW) def. Elvira Lopez (UNI) 6-2, 6-1
4. Abby Stevens (WSUW) def. Astrid Santos (UNI) 7-6(5), 6-4
5. Montse B. Fernandez (WSUW) def. Krissy Lankelma (UNI) 6-2, 5-7, 10-4
6. Veronika Blaskova (WSUW) def. Sydney Wolfe (UNI) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Lucia Kovalova/Veronika Blaskova (WSUW) def. Jieke Stroobant/Erica Medlin (UNI) 8-4
2. Rebecca Pedrazzi/Montse B. Fernandez (WSUW) def. Elvira Lopez/Astrid Santos (UNI) 8-3
3. Julia Schiller/Abby Stevens (WSUW) def. Krissy Lankelma/Jordyn Kearney (UNI) 8-1
Match Notes:
Northern Iowa 12-11 (2-4)
Wichita State 16-6 (5-0); National ranking #54
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,1,2,3,4,5)
