WICHITA, Kan. -  Junior Fatima Bizhukova is set to compete in the ITA Oracle Masters slated for Sept. 20-23 in Malibu, Calif at Pepperdine University and the Malibu Racquet Club.
 
Beginning in 2015, the Oracle ITA Masters has established itself as one of the premier events in collegiate tennis. The event features a 32-player field with invitations sent to one man and woman from each Division I conference. The Oracle ITA Masters champion will earn an automatic bid into the 2018 Oracle ITA National Fall Championships, Nov. 7-11 in Surprise, Ariz.
 
Bizhukova, who ranks No. 36 in ITA Oracle Preseason Rankings, was seeded 16 in the field of 32 singles draw. She is set to take on Adrijana Lekaj of host Pepperdine beginning at 9:15 a.m. PT.  In the only mixed doubles event at a national collegiate championship, Bizhukova will pair up with Tulsa's Majed Kilani. The two were seeded 16 and will take on Aziz Kijametovic of Old Dominion and Maria Kononova of North Texas at 8 a.m. PT.
 
A native of Balashiha, Russia, Bizhukova earned the American Athletic Conference's bid after a successful 2017-18 season. Bizhukova earned All- American Athletic Conference honors and competed in the NCAA Singles Championship a season ago. The junior finished the 2017-18 season ranked No. 57 with a 19-14 overall record, including wins over five nationally ranked opponents.
 
She becomes the first Shocker since Gabriela Porubin to receive a bid to the Masters. Porubin advanced to the second round in 2016, where she defeated (18) Sydney Liggins of Xavier in three sets.
 
Click HERE for all information regarding the 2018 Oracle ITA Masters, including Live Stats and Video.