WICHITA, Kan. -- A memorable Senior Day performance from Lucia Kovalova helped key the Wichita State women's tennis team to a 6-1 win over Bradley, Sunday morning at the Wichita Country Club.
Kovalova, WSU's lone senior, produced a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at No. 5 singles and teamed with Aleks Trifunovic for a quick 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles.
Kovalova - a native of Presov, Slovakia - is in her fourth season with the program. Her 79 singles wins ranks 14th on the school's all-time list, and her 72 doubles wins is 15th.
WSU - ranked 32nd nationally - improved to 19-3 (5-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play) and finished undefeated at home (11-0) for the second-straight year.
The Shockers won all three doubles matches. Bradley did not field an entrant at No. 6 singles, giving the Shockers a quick 2-0 lead. Rebecca Pedrazzi equaled Kovalova with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of her own at No. 3 singles, and Gabriela Porubin and Abby Stevens were near flawless, as well, with 6-0, 6-1 wins at Nos. 2 and 4 singles.
Julia Schiller rebounded from a tough first set at No. 1 singles with a 6-1 victory in the second set to force a super tiebreaker for the match. Bradley's Ariel Dechter prevailed 11-9, giving the Braves their lone point. It was the first scored by a WSU opponent in five MVC matches this year.
The Shockers finish out the regular season next weekend with matches at Northern Iowa (Saturday, 1 pm) and at co-leader Drake (Sunday, 10 am). The Shockers are seeking their seventh consecutive MVC title.
#32 Wichita State 6, Bradley 1
4/12/2015 at Wichita, Kan. (Wichita Country Club)
Singles competition
1. Dechter, Ariel (BRAD) def.
Julia Schiller (WSU) 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (11-9)
6. Aleks Trifunovic (WSU) def. No player (BRAD), by default
Doubles competition
2.
Lucia Kovalova/Aleks Trifunovic (WSU) def. Dechter, Ariel/Manfredo, Aimee (BRAD) 8-2
Match Notes
Bradley 10-10 (1-3 MVC)
Wichita State 19-3 (5-0 MVC); National ranking #32
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,4,2,5,1,3)
Official: Paul Jordan T-2:21 A-74
