LOS ANGELES – The No. 51 Wichita State women's tennis team had No. 27 Pepperdine on the ropes but couldn't deliver the knockout blow. Pepperdine rallied to win the final two singles matches for a thrilling 4-3 victory at USC's Mark's Stadium.
The Waves advanced to the title match of the four-team pod – one of 16 preliminary sites across the country participating in the ITA Kickoff Weekend – and will face host Southern California with a trip to the ITA Indoor Nationals on the line.
WSU (2-1) will take on No. 69 Denver in the consolation match Noon CT on Sunday.
“We had some opportunities to win, but credit Pepperdine for playing a little better in the big points,” said WSU head coach Colin Foster. “I know everyone learned a lot from this competitive of a match, and we'll be a stronger team because of it.”
Pepperdine took the doubles point, thanks to Laura Gube and Christine Maddox's narrow 7-5 win over WSU's team of Julia Schiller and Gabriela Porubin at the No. 2 spot.
WSU's depth produced straight-set wins at the No. 5 and No. 6 singles positions. Lucia Kovalova knocked off Maddox, 6-0, 6-1 and Aleksandra Trifunovic dispatched Danielle Feneridis, 6-2, 6-2 to even the overall score at 2-2.
Each of the three remaining singles matches dragged on to deciding third sets. Rebecca Pedrazzi put away Apichaya Runglerdkriangkrai at No. 2 singles with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win, moving the Shockers in front 3-2.
Needing to win just one more to close out the match, WSU instead dropped a pair of close sets. Lorraine Guillermo – ranked 17th nationally – squeezed out a win over Julia Schiller at the No. 1 spot, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, and Gulbe nipped Porubin, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 to give Pepperdine the overall victory.
#27 Pepperdine 4, #51 Wichita State 3
Jan. 24, 2015 – Marks Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
DOUBLES
(1) Guillermo/Runglerdkriangkrai (PEP) def. Pedrazzi/Kovalova (WSU) – 6-0
(2) Gulbe/Maddox (PEP) def. Schiller/Porubin (WSU) - 7-5
(3) Trifunovic/Pump (WSU) def. Capannolo/Feneridis (PEP) – 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2... Pepperdine wins doubles point
SINGLES
(1) #17 Lorraine Guillermo (PEP) def. Julia Schiller (WSU) – 6-2, 3-6, 7-6
(2) Rebecca Pedrazzi (WSU) def. Apichaya Runglerdkriangkrai (PEP) – 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
(3) Laura Gulbe (PEP) def. Gabriela Porubin (WSU) – 6-3, 4-6, 7-5*
(4) Michaela Capannolo (PEP) def. Abby Stevens (WSU) – 6-0, 7-5
(5) Lucia Kovalova (WSU) def. Christine Maddox (PEP) – 6-0, 6-1
(6) Aleksandra Trifunovic (WSU) def. Danielle Feneridis (PEP) – 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 5, 4, 6, 2, 1, 3*
