LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Wichita State women's tennis won its third straight victory when Lingwei Kong won a three-set dual against Louisville's No. 2, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, to secure the 4-3 victory for the Shockers at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on Saturday.
 
Doubles
Louisville picked up its fifth doubles victory in its last six matches over the Shockers. The Shockers were quickly defeated by the Cardinal's twos and threes to seal the point. Marta Bellucco and Kong were in a 4-4 split on court one when play was suspended.  
 
Singles
The Shockers showed their quality in singles action and picked up four wins to brush off an early shortfall and beat the Cardinals.
 
After playing three straight matches as the No. 2, Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva moved back to the top position to face Louisville's Raven Neely. Saidhujaeva made this transition seamlessly and picked up the straight set victory, 6-3, 6-3, to tie the match at one.
 
After Louisville went back up one, Esther Thebault won on court four, 6-0, 6-4, to tie the match and win her third straight singles match.
 
The match came down to the final two courts with Louisville needing one more win to get the victory. Ting-ya Hsu was already up after the first set, but she won two straight seven game sets to put all the marbles on court two.
 
Lingwei Kong lost the first set but rebounded nicely in the second to force a third set. She staved off five straight Louisville match points to pick up the win and grab the victory for the Shockers.
 
Quotes from the Coach
Head Coach Colin Foster
"We've said all year that this team is fighting and playing with belief, even in defeat. That continues to give us chances in these matches and today we came out on top."
 
"Sarvi and Lingwei are both capable of being the No. 1, but they have struggled at times in that spot. Sarvi responded so well today to a disappointing doubles match and she evened the score quickly. Esther and Tina continue to build confidence and Lingwei was incredible at the end. She saved five match point and stayed positive despite the pressure of her recent struggles. Win or lose, that was a character builder for her but I'm so glad for her and the team she got it done and can see that good things come with positivity and belief."
 
Up Next
Women's tennis takes a week off before going to Tulsa on March 14.
 
Shocker Results
Wichita State 4, Louisville 3
 
Singles competition
1. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) def. Raven Neely (LOU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Lingwei Kong (WSU) def. Rhea Verma (LOU) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Andrea Di Palma (LOU) def. Marta Bellucco (WSU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Esther Thebault (WSU) def. Dina Chaika (LOU) 6-0, 6-4
5. Nikolina Jovic (LOU) def. Alexandra Lazarova (WSU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Ting-Ya Hsu (WSU) def. Maia Haumueller (LOU) 7-5, 7-5
 
Doubles competition
1. Marta Bellucco/Lingwei Kong (WSU) vs. Rhea Verma/Andrea Di Palma (LOU) 4-4, unfinished
2. Raven Neely/Maia Haumueller (LOU) def. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva/Ting-Ya Hsu (WSU) 6-3
3. Nikolina Jovic/Dina Chaika (LOU) def. Alexandra Lazarova/Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) 6-2
 
Match Notes:
Wichita State 7-10
Louisville 8-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,5,4,3,6,2)
T-3:05