WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State women's tennis heads to Lubbock, Texas, Jan-26-27 for the ITA Kick-of Weekend on the campus of Texas Tech University (McLeod Center).
 
The Shockers enter the weekend as the No. 3 seed, with host Texas Tech, ranked No. 8 in ITA Rankings the No. 1 seed. FIU is the No. 2 seed and Saint Mary's the No. 4 seed.
 
WSU faces FIU in the first round, followed by either Texas Tech/Saint Mary's on Saturday. The winner's of the single-elimination event advance to the ITA Division I National Team Indoor Championships on the campus of Wisconsin next month.
 
For live updates and information on the ITA Kick-Off Weekend, CLICK HERE
 
For live stats of the event, visit TexasTech.StatBroadcast.com
 
MATCHUP:

FIU
The Shockers will face FIU on Friday in the first round of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. The matchup will be the first time the two will meet on the court. FIU finished the 2016-17 season ranked No. 42. The Panthers are led by standout Andrea Lazaro, who ranks No. 3 in the ITA/Oracle National Rankings. She has compiled a 14-1 record so far this season in fall and spring play. Ulyana Grib and Maryna Veksler rank No. 15 in doubles action for the Panthers. FIU is 1-0 on the season, beating Kansas State 4-3 in their first match of the spring.
 
Texas Tech
The Shockers and Red Raiders have met seven times in their history, with Texas Tech leading the series 5-2.  The two teams last met last season, where then No. 6 ranked Texas Tech came to Wichita and knocked off the Shockers 4-2. Gabriela Porubin and Fatima Bizhukova knocked of No. 24 ranked Sarah Dvorak and Sabrina Federici 7-5 a season ago. The matchup this year should be a good one, as both teams rank inside the top-30 of the ITA/Oracle National Rankings. (No. 23 WSU, No. 21 TTU).  The Red Raider too are 1-0, knocking off Washington in their opener.
 
Saint Mary's
The Gaels are led by Simon Harston, in his first year as head coach and third year overall with the program. Saint Mary's are picked to finish fourth in the West Coast Conference this season. This too would be the first time the Shockers and Gaels met up on the court.
 
Shocker Notes:
-Wichita State starts the spring season with a 2-0 record
-Looking for three in a row, the Shockers have only started the season 3-0 twice under current head coach Colin Foster, in 2011-12 and 2015-16.
-The Shockers swept Stephen F. Austin 7-0 in their season opener.
-Newcomers Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva and Alexandra Lazarova earned their first Shocker dual victories in the win over Stephen F. Austin.
-WSU defeated SMU (5-2) for their first match against a conference opponent in the American Athletic Conference.
-Shocker duo Gabriela Porubin (Senior) and Fatima Bizhukova(Sophomore) rank No. 23 in doubles play, according to ITA/Oracle National Rankings (Nov. 15)