CINCINNATI, Ohio - Wichita State women's tennis won its second match in a row and completed a sweep of the Cincinnati division one schools by defeating Cincinnati, 4-3, on Thursday at the Western Tennis and Fitness Center.
 
Doubles
The Bearcats got the best of the Shockers in doubles competition. Cincinnati picked up the first two wins by going 6-4 on both court one and three. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva and Ting-ya Hsu were up 5-3 on two, but they ended the dual unfinished.
 
Singles
The Shockers competed in their closest singles action of the season against the Bearcats. Saidhujaeva and Marta Bellucco set the tone for the afternoon on courts two and three. Saidhujaeva gave the Shockers their first point with a 6-1, 6-4 win and Bellucco followed quickly to give the Shockers the lead by winning 6-2, 6-1.
 
The next three courts to go final caused the lead to exchange hands. Cincinnati won court one, but Hsu was victorious as the No. 6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, to give the Shockers a short-lived lead. The match came down to Esther Thebault against Cincinnati's No. 5, Maria Santilli. Thebault won the first set, 6-1, but Santilli won the tie break in the second set to force a third set. Thebault returned to her first set form and downed Santilli in similar fashion to seal the match for the Shockers, 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2.
 
Quotes from the Coach
Head Coach Colin Foster
"We continue to play with great fight and energy. Sarvi and Esther have struggled at times this year and for both to win, and Esther to clinch, showed their resilience and fight. Tina has responded well to getting opportunities and is playing some of the most focused, hard-working tennis or her career. Marta continues to deliver high quality tennis no matter the opponent. For someone who wasn't consistently in lineup last year to be playing well in the top half says a lot about her growth, especially mentally. She's always had the ability to have these results, but sometimes would get too stressed or worked up in situations and she's done nothing but be a positive rock match in and match out."
 
Up Next
The road trip continues as the team heads to Kentucky to take on Louisville at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on March 7th at 10 a.m. CT.
 
Shocker Results
Wichita State 4, Cincinnati 3
 
Singles competition
1. GUNA, Ioana (CIN) def. Lingwei Kong (WSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
2. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) def. MORTON, Caroline (CIN) 6-1, 6-4
3. Marta Bellucco (WSU) def. COUTINO, Alexia (CIN) 6-2, 6-1
4. MICELI, Emma (CIN) def. Alexandra Lazarova (WSU) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
5. Esther Thebault (WSU) def. SANTILLI, Maria (CIN) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2
6. Ting-Ya Hsu (WSU) def. NIEHAUS, Kelli (CIN) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. GUNA, Ioana/MORTON, Caroline (CIN) def. Marta Bellucco/Lingwei Kong (WSU) 6-4
2. COUTINO, Alexia/MICELI, Emma (CIN) vs. Ting-Ya Hsu/Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) 3-5, unfinished
3. NIEHAUS, Kelli/PHILP, Anna (CIN) def. Alexandra Lazarova/Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Wichita State 6-10 (2-1)
Cincinnati 7-6 (0-1)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,1,6,4,5)