WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita State women's tennis teams opens the 2019 season with a trip to Austin, Texas for ITA Kick-Off Weekend. The two-day event (Jan. 26-27) will be held at the Texas Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Texas.
 
A Look at the Shockers
WSU returns senior Sandra Honigova (16-5 dual record, '17-18) juniors Fatima Bizhukova (12-8 dual record [5-6 vs. nationally ranked opponents], Marta Bellucco (9-11 dual record), Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (7-11 dual record) and Ting-Ya Hsu (12-7 dual doubles record) and sophomore Alexandra Lazarova (4-4  dual record).
 
Bizhukova and Bellucco, who rank No. 19 in the latest ITA/Oracle Doubles Rankings, went 10-4 in dual play as a tandem last season, with wins over four ranked opponents. The duo knocked off the No. 5 and No. 8-ranked doubles teams at the NCAA Team Championships last May.
 
Esther Thebault, a native of Rennes, France, joins the Shockers for the spring season along with Wichita native Tiffani Holman.
 
About ITA Kick-Off Weekend
ITA Kick-Off Weekend is in its 11^th season, and is made up of 60 teams competing at 24 different Division I tennis facilities across the country. 15 regional sites are made up of four teams, with the winner of the event advancing to the ITA Division I National Team Indoor Championships next month. 2017-18 ITA/Oracle Rankings were used to determine host sites for the event, and a draft was held to fill seeds two-through-four.
 
The Field
Wichita State, Baylor, No. 6 Texas and Middle Tennessee make up the Austin Regional, which will take place Jan. 26-27.
 
The Shockers take on Baylor in Saturday's opening round at 11 a.m.  No. 6 Texas will follow with 1 p.m. match against Middle Tennessee.
 
Baylor
The Bears are off to a 4-1 start to the 2019 season, with wins over UTRGV, New Mexico, Rice and Prairie View A&M. The Bears' lone loss came to Hawaii (4-3) in their season opener in Manoa, Hawaii. Livia Kraus ranks No. 59 and holds a 5-0 record in the top slot. Kristina Sorokolet is 5-0 in slots three through five, with a national ranking of 114.
 
Series History
vs. Baylor
Baylor leads 2-0
Last Meeting- March 24, 1992 (Baylor 8, WSU 1)
 
Texas
Texas opens the 2019 season against Middle Tennessee State.  The Longhorns rank No. 6 in ITA/Oracle Team Rankings, and have four singles players ranked inside the top-80.
 
Series History
vs. Texas
Texas leads 3-0
Last Meeting – Jan. 26, 2013 (No. 11 Texas 5, No. 61 WSU 0)
Foster vs. Texas – 0-3
 
Middle Tennessee
The Blue Raiders are 1-1 to begin the spring season, with a win over Lipscomb (5-2). Their lone loss came to Austin Peay in a 4-3 decision.
 
Series History
vs. Middle Tennessee
WSU leads 2-0
Last Meeting- Feb. 29, 2008 (No. 47 WSU 6, Middle Tennessee 1)
 
Shockers at ITA Kick-Off Weekend
Since 2008-09, the Shockers have competed in five ITA Kick-Off Weekends, most recently last spring in Lubbock, Texas. Last year, WSU knocked off FIU in first-round action. Junior Fatima Bizhukova defeated No. 3 Andrea Lazaro in the No. 1 slot to help lead the Shockers to the Championship match against No. 8 Texas Tech. WSU fell 4-0 to the Red Raiders.
 
2013- Austin, Texas
First Round- (1) No. 11 Texas 5, (4) WSU 0
Consolation – (4) WSU 4, (3) Stephen F. Austin 2
 
2015 – Los Angeles, Calif.
First Round – (2) No. 27 Pepperdine 4, (3) WSU 3
Consolation- (3) WSU 4, (4) No. 69 Denver, 0
 
2016 – College Station, Texas
First Round – (2) WSU 4, (3) No. 61 Minnesota, 1
Championship – (1) No. 10 Texas A&M 4, (2) WSU 3
 
2017 – Stillwater, Okla.
First Round – (3) TCU 4, (2) WSU 0
Consolation – (2) WSU 4, (4) Cornell 0
 
2018 – Lubbock, Texas
First Round - WSU 4, FIU 2
Championship – No. 8 Texas Tech 4, WSU 0