The RoundHouse | 1/21/2022 1:25:00 PM

 
Natsumi Kurahashi remembers a lot of tears.
 
Then she remembers Wichita State women's tennis coach Colin Foster telling her a story about a former Shocker. Kurahashi endured a tough practice match last spring. Foster told her about Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva, current graduate manager and former Shocker.
 
"I played so bad, and I got so emotional," Kurahashi said.
 
Saidhujaeva played No. 6 singles early in her career with the Shockers before ascending to the No. 1 spot in the singles lineup. Foster can think of plenty of other Shockers who followed a similar path that he can use as examples of perseverance.
 
"Out of the lineup to being an all-conference-type player," Foster said. "(Sarvi) was low in the lineup, in and out, her freshman year. Her third year, she had a really good run at (NCAA) regionals. Incremental changes and some belief and putting the work in can go a long way."
 
Kurahashi, a sophomore from Japan, is now that example. She played No. 6 in the 2019-20 season, abbreviated by COVID. Last season, she went 5-9 at No. 5 singles.
 
"I came here for tennis, but I didn't do anything for the team," she said. "I kept working hard, but I didn't have good results. I was kind of in a negative mood."
 
She moved up to No. 1 in the lineup in the fall and will start the spring season at that spot. Wichita State opens its spring schedule on Saturday at the Wichita Country Club with matches against Saint Louis (2 p.m.) and Newman (6 p.m.).
 
"Last year, things really started to click," Foster said. "More than anything, it was confidence. And understanding how to use her weapons, how to use her backhand slice more effectively."
 
Hearing how Saidhujaeva improved helped. Foster points to several other Shockers – Montse Blasco Fernandez and Giulia Guidetti among them – as proof that a spot low in the lineup isn't permanent.
 
"(Saidhujaeva) kept working hard and stayed positive and she got better," Kurahashi said. "I heard that story and decided to not be negative anymore, just be positive no matter what. If I lose a match, I stay positive and look forward."
 
Kurahashi points to confidence and the positive attitude as crucial to her rise in the lineup. She insists on enjoying the sport. She began using her quickness more effectively to cover the court and leaned on her backhand slice while continuing to improve her backhand.
 
"I don't have much confidence in my backhand, so instead I use my slice," she said. "That's become my strong point. And I keep working on my backhand. It's better than two years ago."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.