WICHITA, Kan. - - Wichita State (1-4) looks to get back on track in a two-match homestand when they play host to Middle Tennessee State, Saturday Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. for its home opener. The Shockers host UMKC on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at Genesis Health Club (Rock Road).
 
SHOCKER SUMMARY
Wichita State is 1-4 to start the 2018 season under second-year head coach Danny Bryan. The lone win came in their season opener on the road against Buffalo (5-2). Cornell (6-1), Utah (5-2), Auburn (4-3) and Arkansas (4-3) are among the Shockers opponents. Senior co-captain Miroslav Herzan leads the charge for the Shockers, compiling a 4-1 record in singles action, in the fourth, fifth and sixth flights. Elsewhere, junior Haru Inoue is 2-2 in first and second flight, and sophomore Murkel Dellien is 2-3 in both second and third flights. In doubles, the tandem of Dellien and Marius Frosa are off to a 4-1 start in the top flight.
 
ON MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
The Blue Raiders are off to an 8-2 start for the 2018 season. They have wins over Chattanoga (7-0), UAB (5-2), Alabama State (7-0), UTSA (5-2), TSU (7-0), George Washington (7-0), and St. John's (5-2). Their two losses came Vanderbilt and Indiana. The Blue Raiders are led by doubles tandem Chris Edge and Tom Moonen, who come into the match ranked No. 48 and an 8-1 record. Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore leads MTSU in singles action, compiling a 9-1 record (4-0/1st,  5-1/2nd). The Blue Raiders finished the 2016-17 season 12-14, including a berth in the semifinals of the Conference-USA tournament. Jimmy Borendame is in his eighth season at the helm and has an overall record of 111-82.
 
ON UMKC
The Roos have wins over William Jewell (7-0) and Creighton (4-3) to start the season. Their losses have came against two ranked Big 12 opponents, No. 15 Oklahoma State (6-1) and No. 11 Baylor (7-0) along with Nebraska (4-1). Alex Pozo leads the Roos in singles play with a 3-2 record in the second flight. The tandem of Airam Castellano/Pozo are 3-3 in doubles, all in first flight. The Roos were 14-9 last season, 3-2 in the WAC.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Arkansas took down Wichita State (4-3) in what was battle until the end. After gaining a 1-0 lead after clinching the doubles point, the Razorbacks won three singles matches in a row to take the lead. Inoue knocked off Sanjurujo in the second flight to get within striking distance. After trailing 5-2 in the third set, Dellien battled his way to victory in a tiebreaker (7-6(5)) to tie it at three. Herzan suffered his first loss of the season in singles in the fourth flight to give Arkansas the victory.
 
FIRST FIVE
WSU is off to a 1-4 start for the 2018 season. It's lone victory came over Buffalo in the season opener (5-2). The Shockers' three losses came from Cornell, Utah, Auburn and Arkansas.
 
SENIOR POWER
Senior Miroslav Herzan is off to a hot start in dual season.Herzan begins the season 4-1 in singles action. His lone loss came by way of Pedro Alonso of Arkansas. He's competed in the sixth, fifth and fourth flight. All Herzans' victories have came in three-sets.
 
CAPTAINS
Head coach Danny Bryan announced the captains for the 2018 season. The captains include Herzan and juniors Haru Inoue and Eddie Stoica.
 
NEW FACE ON THE COURT
Freshman Andrea Trapani joined the Shockers in January, and looks to record his first victory in a Shocker uniform after an 0-4 start to the spring season. Trapani hails from Palermo, Italy and had a 13.22 Universal Tennis Rating coming to Wichita State. He ranked as high as #232 in ITF Junior World Rankings, with over 30 combined singles and doubles wins.
 
FALL BALL
Frosa, from Romania, led the Shockers in the fall season. Frosa went 8-4 in the fall in singles action, including a run to the main draw of the ITA All-Americans, knocking off No. 83 Felix Corwin of Minnesota along the way. The junior was one win away from making the final four of the ITA Central Regional. Inoue, who ranked No. 58 in Fall Rankings, went 10-4 in singles competing in three Futures events. He advanced to the main draw in two of the three events. In doubles, junior Andrea Caligiana and Herzan went 5-2, including a semifinal berth at the ITA Central Regional. Stoica and Frosa went 3-1, including an upset over No. 25 Hammond/Cash of Oklahoma State.
 
UP NEXT:
The Shockers have a quick turnaround after two matches this weekend, traveling to Tulsa on Monday, Feb. 19. The dual will be the first American Athletic Conference opponent for the Shockers in their inaugural season in the conference.