The RoundHouse | 5/18/2019 8:59:00 AM

 
Fatima Bizhukova considers Wichita State's white shirt her lucky look, which is good, until she forgets to pack that version.
 
Marta Bellucco, her doubles partner, is prepared.
 
"I always bring two," she said. 
 
Good doubles partners complement each other, before and during matches. Bizhukova and Belluco qualified as an at-large team for the 32-team field for NCAA Championships beginning Tuesday in Orlando, Fla. 
 
They are 11-10 and No. 27 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings after wins over five ranked opponents in 2018-19.
 
Their success over the past year instills a belief they are capable of advancing in the bracket. Wichita State last placed a doubles team in the NCAA Championships in 2010 and no Shocker team has won a match since 1985.
 
"When we're in this mood, we can beat anyone, when we're confident and ready to play," Bizhukova said. 
 
Coach Colin Foster said the duo works in large part because both are willing to play fearlessly. Bizhukova, a senior from Russia, is that type naturally and Bellucco, a junior from Italy, learned quickly.
 
"Some of that early success gave them a lot of confidence," Foster said. "Doubles, just one set to 6, it goes fast. When two even teams get together, there's just a couple of crucial moments that tip the scales. They're more willing than not to take the risk in those big moments."
 
Their rise started last spring in the team portion of the NCAA Championships. They defeated Syracuse's 8^th-ranked team and Mississippi's fifth-ranked team. 
 
Bizhukova said she wasn't sure if the pairing worked for much of the spring in 2018. They started in February and endured some difficulties. They finished on a three-match streak and the NCAA wins ended doubts.
 
"We didn't really believe in ourselves," Bizhukova said. "Then we got this huge confidence."
 
Then they added experience playing together and beating some of the nation's top teams.
 
"I anticipate what she is going to do, so I can adjust to that," Bellucco said. "When we're at the net, I'm always ready to get the lob. I know she's going to close, so I know that I'm going to get the lob. It's just something that comes with playing together."
 
They advanced to the semifinals of the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships with three wins over opponents ranked in the top 30. Those performances helped them rise to No. 14 nationally last fall and played a large role in building their at-large resume this spring.
 
"Marta's got a pretty good serve and Fatima reads the points really well at the net," Foster said. "Marta's really gotten better, herself, at the net to know when to take those risks and make the aggressive play. They know how to wins points with offense and defense. If you can sneak out a few points by just getting more ball back, those can be pretty big momentum shifts."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.