LINCOLN, Neb. – Wichita State true freshman Clara Whitaker ran her singles winning streak to seven-straight matches, but host Nebraska prevailed, 6-1, in women's tennis dual at the Dillon Tennis Complex.
 
The Huskers won the doubles point and on five of the six singles courts to even their season record a 2-2.
 
"We created a lot of chances early in singles," WSU head coach Colin Foster said. "We were up on five courts but only closed out two of those first sets, so let that momentum slip. My message to the team was to be encouraged by the level we played early and the leads we created, and to be hungrier the next time we're in that spot to keep our foot on the gas when our opponent pushes back."
 
WSU (4-3) leaves Lincoln with a split having defeated Creighton, 5-2, earlier this weekend.
 
Whitaker – a former standout at Wichita's Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School – improved to 13-3 (7-0 in dual matches) with a 6-1, 7-6 (4) win at the No. 4 position.
 
"Clara continues to play with a clear purpose on each and every point," Foster said. "She was cruising today and had a bit of a hiccup trying to close the match out, but she regained her composure and played a great game at 5-6 and then a great tiebreak to beat a good opponent."
 
The Shockers had an opportunity to salvage one additional point on Court 2, where LingWei Kong split her two sets but fell short in a tie-breaker, 10-5.
 
Kong and doubles partner Natsumi Kurahashi lost their first match together a No. 1 doubles after a 4-0 start to the spring.
 
"We've been battling the flu, which has added to some of our early season challenges," Foster noted. "We're looking forward to getting healthy and have two strong opponents coming to town this weekend."
 
WSU meets future American Athletic Conference rival Florida Atlantic for the first time on Friday (8 a.m. Genesis West Central) and plays host to Tulane next Sunday (Feb. 13, 9 a.m., Wichita Country Club).
 

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Nebraska 6, Wichita State 1
Feb. 6, 2022 at Lincoln, Neb. (Dillon Tennis Center)
 
Singles competition:
1. Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) -- 6-2, 6-1
2. Isabel A. Gallego (NEB) def. LingWei Kong (WSU) -- 2-6, 6-4, 10-5
3. Maja Makoric (NEB) def. Dohee lee (WSU) -- 7-5, 6-2
4. Clara Whitaker (WSU) def. Samantha Alicea (NEB) -- 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
5. Ellie Kuckelman (NEB) def. Bianca Rademacher (WSU) -- 7-6, 6-4
6. Jillian Roa (NEB) def. Harriet Hamilton (WSU) -- 6-3, 6-1
 
Doubles competition:
1. Ellie Kuckelman/Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) def. LingWei Kong/Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) -- 6-3
2. Kristina Novak/Samantha Alicea (NEB) def. Harriet Hamilton/Clara Whitaker (WSU) -- 6-0
3. Isabel A. Gallego/Maja Makoric (NEB) vs. Dohee lee/Bianca Rademacher (WSU) -- 5-4, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (1,3,6,4,5,2)
 
Records:
WSU (4-3), NEB (2-2)