Results

LUBBOCK, Texas – Fatima Bizhukova took down No. 3 ranked Andrea Lazaro, helping Wichita State to a 4-2 victory over FIU Friday at the McLeod Tennis Center in Lubbock.
 
FIU grabbed the doubles point to take an early 1-0 in the opening day of ITA Kick-Off weekend. In flight three, Andrea Lazaro and Nerma Caluk defeated Shocker duo Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva/Giulia Guidetti (6-2). It was a top-25 matchup in the top flight, with No. 15 Ulyana Grib/Maryna Veksler defeating sophomore Fatima Bizhukova and senior Gabriela Porubin, who rank No. 23 (6-3) to clinch the doubles point. Mina Markovic/Sandra Bozinovic led Sandra Honigova and Marta Bellucco in the second flight 5-4, before going unfinished.
 
The Shockers turned it on in singles play, winning four out of five to take the match from FIU. The match of the day was in the first flight, where Bizhukova took on Lazaro, the decorated talent for FIU who ranks No. 3 in ITA Rankings. Bizhukova took control in the first, sailing to a 6-1 win. The sophomore from Russia didn't let up in the second set, cruising to a 6-1 victory for the upset over the 2017 Singles Fall National Champion.

"Obviously that's a signature, and dominant win from Fatima. When you lose the doubles against a team with such a highly ranked first singles player sometimes it can turn into a 2-0 deficit quickly," head coach Colin Foster said. "Fatima was having none of that today and was on a mission from the first ball."
 
FIU gained a 2-1 after Bozinovic of FIU took down Saidhujaeva in the sixth flight (6-4, 6-4).

WSU took another point from the Panthers in flight four, with senior Gabriela Porubin taking down Markovic in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.
 Guidetti and Veksler went shot-for-shot in the second flight, with Guidetti winning the first in a close one, (7-5). The senior from Italy rolled in the second set, 6-2 to put the Shockers up 3-2. The match between Bellucco and Caluk went unfinished, with Bellucco leading 4-3 in the third set.

"Elsewhere in the lineup we played composed, determined tennis. Marta and Sandra both almost overcam 5-1 deficits in the first set and came up short," stated Foster. "They got right back to work in the second set,"
 
In the third flight, Grib and Honigova went three sets to determine a winner. Honigova, who transferred from FIU, dropped the first set, 6-4 before rallying to take the second and third sets (6-3, 6-2) and clinch the victory for the Shockers.

"I know it was a bit extra special for Sandra to clinch the match against her former team," Foster said. "We're excited to advance to the second round and have absolutely nothing to lose, but every reason to believe we wan win tomorrow."
 
Shocker Notes:
-For the third time under head coach Colin Foster, the Shockers begin the season 3-0. (2011-12, 2015-16)
-Sophomore Fatima Bizhukova  signature win adds to her stellar 2017-18 resume. Bizhukova knocked off No. 92 Zoe Douglas of Iowa and No. 77 Liza Buss of SMU in the fall, and has started the season 3-0 in singles action.
-The Shockers move to 1-0 all-time against FIU.
-Junior Sandra Honigova went 5-0 at FIU in 2015-16, before transferring to WSU. She sat out a season ago.
-FIU falls to 1-1 on the season

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Wichita State 4, FIU 2
 
Singles Competition
1) Fatima Bizhukova (WSU) def. #3 Andrea Lazaro (FIU) 6-1, 6-2
2) Giulia Guidetti (WSU) def. Maryna Veksler (FIU), 7-5, 6-2
3) Sandra Honigova (WSU) def. Ulyana Grib (FIU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4) Gabriela Porubin (WSU) def. Mina Markovic (FIU), 6-4, 6-1
5) Marta Bellucco (WSU) vs. Nerma Caluk (FIU) 4-6, 6-0, 4-3, unfinished
6) Sandra Bozinovic (FIU) def. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU), 6-4, 6-4
 
Doubles Competition
1) #15 Ulyana Grib/Maryna Veksler (FIU) def. #23 Fatima Bizhukova/Gabriela Porubin (WSU), 6-3
2) Sandra Honigova/Marta Bellucco (WSU) vs. Mina Markovic/Sandra Bozinovic (FIU) 5-4, unfinished
3) Andrea Lazaro/Nerma Caluk (FIU) def. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva/Giulia Guidetti (WSU) 6-2
 
Match Notes
FIU 1-1
WSU 3-0
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1) Singles (1,6,4,2,3)