For the second-consecutive afternoon, the Wichita State women's tennis team faced long odds and came up just short, this time dropping a 5-2 decision to South Florida at the Wichita Country Club indoor facility.
 
As was the case in Thursday's 4-3 setback against Cincinnati, WSU (6-10) played with just five active players, essentially spotting the visitors two free points in doubles and No. 6 singles.
 
Needing to win four of the five remaining singles matches, the Shockers found themselves in the driver's sets after winning first sets on each of the top-four courts.
 
"We fought super-hard both these matches," head coach Colin Foster said. "When you put four first sets on the board you give yourselves a chance, but USF responded well to push them all to third sets."
 
LingWei Kong and Harriet Hamilton went on to score victories at Nos. 2 and 4 singles, but the Bulls wrestled three-set wins at Nos. 1 and 3 to clinch the match. The latter went down to a tiebreaker.
 
USF earned its fifth-and-final point at No. 5 singles, where Clara Whitaker dropped a first-set tiebreaker and a close second set.
 
Despite the loss, Foster was encouraged by the overall effort.
 
"Even though Clara didn't win she played much better than in her last few matches," Foster said. "I hope she, and everyone, continue to take positives, no matter if they won or lost their individual matches, because they're doing everything we ask of them."
 

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South Florida 5, Wichita State 2
Mar. 18, 2022 | Noon CT
Wichita, Kan. | Wichita Country Club
 
Singles Competition:
1. Grace Schumacher (USF) def. Natsumi Kurahashi (WICH) -- 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-2
2. LingWei Kong (WICH) def. Sierra Berry (USF) -- 7-5, 4-6, 6-1
3. Laura Pellicer (USF) def. Jessie Zheng (WICH) -- 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Harriet Hamilton (WICH) def. Amelie Boy (USF) -- 6-2, 2-6, 6-0
5. Margriet Timmermans (USF) def. Clara Whitaker (WICH) -- 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
6. Kiana Mokhtari (USF) won by default
 
Doubles Competition:
1. Boy/Berry (USF) led Kurahashi/Zheng (WICH) -- 2-4, unfinished
2. Schumacher/Timmermans (USF) def. Hamilton/Whitaker (WICH) -- 6-2
3. Pellicer/Selin Yaylali (USF) won by default
 
Match Notes:
South Florida 4-10
Wichita State 6-10
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,4,1,3,2,5)
Time: 3:48
 
The Shockers have the next nine days off before traveling to Kansas State on Sunday, Mar. 27.
 
WSU's next home action comes the following week against Houston (Friday, Apr. 1) and SMU (Sunday, Apr. 3) at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex.