OMAHA, Neb. – Shorthanded Wichita State won the majority of the battles against host Omaha but lost the war, 4-3, Sunday morning at Miracle Hill Tennis Center.
 
The Shockers (2-2) had just five available players, resulting in defaults at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. They split the two remaining doubles matches and won three of the five singles pairings, but it wasn't enough to get by Omaha (4-0).
 
WSU's No. 1 doubles duo of LingWei Kong and Natsumi Kurahashi scored a 6-1 win out of the gate, but the lack of a third doubles tandem left the Shockers with little margin for error. Omaha claimed the doubles point with a narrow 6-4 win at No. 2.
 
Needing to win four of the five singles matches, the Shockers rose to the occasion early.
 
Playing up two spots in the order at No. 4, Clara Whitaker improved to 4-0 on the spring with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep.
 
Kong and Harriett Hamilton also won in straight-sets at No. 2 and No. 5 singles. Both improved to 3-1 in spring dual matches.
 
Those victories briefly gave WSU a 3-2 edge on the scoreboard.
 
Omaha tied it shortly after when Madison Gallegos handed WSU's Kurahashi her first setback of the spring at No. 1 singles by a count of 6-3, 6-3.
 
Tied at 3-3, the dual came down to court No. 3 – the only singles match to go the distance.
 
WSU's Jessie Zheng regrouped after a 6-1 loss in the first set with a 6-4 win, forcing a decisive third set, but Omaha's Ines Absisan prevailed 6-3 to win the point and the dual for the Mavericks.
 
The Shockers continue their three-day road swing Monday morning in Sioux Falls against South Dakota. First serve is 10 a.m. CT.