LAWRENCE, Kan. - Wichita State women's tennis won the doubles point but end up falling to No. 19 Kansas by a score of 6-1 at the Jayhawk Tennis Center on Sunday in Lawrence, Kan.
 
The afternoon started on a high note as the lone ranked Shocker duo, No. 53 Marta Bellucco and Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva, picked up a win over the top Jayhawk pair. Esther Thebault and Lingwei Kong also took care of their business and picked up a victory over Kansas' second pair.
 
Many of the singles matchups were back and forth affairs. The Shockers forced two first sets to go to seven but failed to win one. Alexander Lazarova forced a third set against Kansas' Carmen Roxana Manu after winning the second set 7-6. However, she failed to win the third set and lost the dual, 5-7, 7-6, 10-6.
 
Quotes from the Coach
Head Coach Colin Foster
"I thought we played well in defeat last week against Oklahoma State and played even better today. Losing is always frustrating but our opponents have been very quality. These matches have exposed some areas we need to improve in, but also showed that we have all the pieces necessary to have a good year."
 
Up Next
The Shockers have a week off before they host Kansas State on Jan. 31 and Arkansas on Feb. 2. In the meantime, the team will be celebrating women's tennis alum Lutfiana Budiharto being inducted into the Wichita State Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame on Jan. 25.
 
Shocker Results
Wichita State 1, Kansas 6
Singles competition
1. #63 Sonia Smagina (KU) def. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
2. #93 Malkia Ngounoue (KU) def. Esther Thebault (WSU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Luniuska Delgado (KU) def. Lingwei Kong (WSU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Carmen Roxana Manu (KU) def. Alexandra Lazarova (WSU) 5-7, 7-6, 10-6
5. Vasiliki Karvouni (KU) def. Marta Bellucco (WSU) 6-3, 7-6
6. Maria Toran Ribes (KU) def. Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) 6-1, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. #53 Marta Bellucco/Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) def. Malkia Ngounoue/Luniuska Delgado (KU) 6-2
2. Esther Thebault/Lingwei Kong (WSU) def. Sonia Smagina/Vasiliki Karvouni (KU) 6-3
3. Maria Toran Ribes/Carmen Roxana Manu (KU) def. Natsumi Kurahashi/Alexandra Lazarova (WSU) 6-3