Wichita State's Harriet Hamilton spent the better part of Friday morning waiting patiently for her turn.
 
The graduate transfer from Jacksonville State wasn't in the doubles lineup and, with only five indoor courts available at Genesis West Central, her No. 6 singles match didn't start until most of the others were nearing completion.
 
But when her time finally arrived, Hamilton was more than ready.
 
With the dual tied 3-3 and all eyes on the last remaining court, Hamilton won in straight-sets to give the host Shockers a 4-3 victory over Florida Atlantic.
 
"Harriet struggled last week and was disappointed after the match at Nebraska, but she responded today with a great attitude and mindset," head coach Colin Foster said. "She played her best at the end to close out the win for us."
 
WSU (5-3) won a tightly-contested doubles points and set the table with singles wins by Clara Whitaker and Jessie Zheng on court Nos. 3 and 4 to improve to 3-0 at home this year.
 
Hamilton wasn't the only Shocker who showed improvement from last weekend's 6-1 setback against the Huskers in Lincoln.
 
"It was a great response from the Nebraska match, which we felt slipped away from us at a few spots," Foster said. "We competed with composure and passion at every spot, even under duress. In doubles, we are making adjustments and getting better and in singles, we were locked in and ready to compete from the starting-gun to the last ball. It was a great team win."
 
The Shockers came from behind to win doubles matches at No. 2 and No. 3 to stake an early 1-0 lead.
 
Zheng (10-6, 2-3 in duals) dropped just four games in a two-set sweep at No. 4 singles.
 
FAU (3-5) got on the board with Martina Kudelova's 6-4, 6-4 over WSU's Natsumi Kurashi at No. 1..
 
Moments later the Shockers upped their lead to 3-1 behind Whitaker, who won her debut at the No. 3 position and ran her spring dual record to 8-0 with a 6-2, 7-6 (5) win.
 
The visiting Owls stayed alive by winning at No. 5 and evened the score at 3-3 with Katerina Filip's three-set victory over LingWei Kong on court No. 2 (6-2, 5-7, 6-1).
 
That shifted all of the pressure to Hamilton, who had already put away the first set but trailed 3-1 in the second against FAU's hard-serving freshman, Carina Sommer.
 
Hamilton (14-4, 6-2 in duals) responded well to the pressure with back-to-back service breaks and won each of the last five games to close out the match, 6-4, 6-3.

The Shockers are home again Sunday morning against the Tulane Green Wave -- this time on the Wichita Country Club indoor courts. First serve is at 9 a.m. CT.
 

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Wichita State 4, Florida Atlantic 3
Feb. 11, 2022 | 8 a.m. CT
Wichita, Kan. (Genesis West Central Indoor Courts)
 
Singles:
1.Martina Kudelova (FAU) def. Natsumi Kurahashi (WICH) -- 6-4, 6-4
2.Katerina Filip (FAU) def. LingWei Kong (WICH) -- 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
3.Clara Whitaker (WICH) def. Lexi Silna (FAU) -- 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
4.Jessie Zheng (WICH) def. Greta Schieroni (FAU) -- 6-1, 6-3
5.Millie-Mae Matthews (FAU) def. Bianca Rademacher (WICH) -- 6-3, 6-3
6. Harriet Hamilton (WICH) def. Carina Sommer (FAU) -- 6-4, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Kurahashi/ Kong (WICH) vs. Kudelova/ Filip (FAU) -- 6-6, unfinished
2. Rademacher/Dohee Lee (WICH) def. Silna/ Schieroni (FAU) -- 6-4
3. Whitaker/ Zheng (WICH) def. Sommer/Amber McGinnis (FAU) -- 6-4
 
Records:
FAU (3-5), WSU (5-3)
 
Order of finish:
Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,1,3,5,2,6)