WICHITA, Kan. -- The Wichita State women's tennis team - ranked 32nd nationally - picked up another Missouri Valley Conference victory and dispatched their fourth nationally-ranked opponent of the season, Saturday, with wins over visiting Illinois State (7-0) and Tulsa (4-3) at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex.
WSU (18-3, 4-0 MVC) made short work of ISU in the first dual of the day. The Redbirds fielded a lineup with just four singles players, handing the Shockers two free points. The remaining matches went swiftly with WSU sweeping all four in straight-sets.
Later in the day, the Shockers defeated Tulsa for the first time since 2008. The Golden Hurricane took the doubles point on a tiebreaker, but WSU won each of the first four singles battles to reach completion to clinch the dual victory.
"It was a really impressive win," WSU head coach, Colin Foster said. "We had match points for the doubles point and came up short, but on all six courts we quickly put that behind us and competed hard to the finish.
"Tulsa has lost a bunch of close matches this year and is stronger than its ranking and record. This was a good win to build on as we finish the regular season and head into postseason play."
Abby Stevens led the way, going 2-0 on the day.
WSU extended its home winning streak to 24 matches, dating back to February of 2013.
The Shockers will look to wrap up a second consecutive unbeaten home season when they host Bradley, Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
#32 Wichita State 7, Illinois State 0
4/11/2015 at Wichita, Kan.
(Sheldon Coleman TC)
Singles competition
4.
Luca Pump (WSU) def. Catherine Shulman (ILS) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
2.
Lucia Kovalova/Aleks Trifunovic (WSU) def. Chanel Scudiero/Catherine Shulman (ILS) 8-0
Match Notes:
Illinois State 2-14 (0-3 MVC)
Wichita State 17-3 (4-0 MVC); National ranking #32
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,2,3,4,1)
Official: Paul Jordan T-2:14 A-23
#32 Wichita State 4, #74 Tulsa 3
4/11/2015 at Wichita, Kan.
(Sheldon Coleman TC)
Singles competition
6. Mahitha Dadireddy (TUL) def. Aleks Trifunovic (WSU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
2. Aleks Trifunovic/
Lucia Kovalova (WSU) def. R. Leenabanchong/Marcelnia Cichon (TUL) 6-4
Match Notes:
Tulsa 13-10; National ranking #74
Wichita State 18-3; National ranking #32
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,5,4,3,1,6)
Official: Paul Jordan T-2:58 A-44