The Wichita State women's tennis team put away Drake, 5-2, Saturday afternoon in a closely-contested dual match at the Wichita Country Club.
 
Doubles came down to a tiebreaker and four of the six singles matches went the distance.
 
The No. 1 doubles tandem of Lingwei Kong and Natsumiu Kurahashi prevailed 7-6 (2) to tip the scales in WSU's favor.
 
Both players also won their respective singles battles, Kong in straight sets and Kurahashi in three, to secure two more points.
 
The visiting Bulldogs (2-2) pulled to within 3-2 by winning a pair of three-setters on courts 1 and 4. Both Drake players benefited from tiebreaker victories.
 
All eyes shifted to the two remaining flights, which got out to late starts due to lack of court availability.
 
At No. 6, Harriet Hamilton left little to chance, sweeping her opponent, 6-1, 6-0 to officially clinch the match.
 
Marlene Förster bounced back from a tough first set at No. 5 singles to win 0-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5.
 
"It was a really good college tennis match," head coach Colin Foster said." Obviously winning the doubles point was crucial. Lingwei and Natsu played a flawless tiebreak with the point on the line. In singles we were pushed at every position, which is what you want. Harriet did so well to play with confidence in doubles and singles. She knew the match was on the line in singles and she never flinched."
 
WSU (2-1) avenged a 2022 loss to Drake in Des Moines. The Shockers have won 18 of the last 19 meetings between the schools going back to 2006.
 
The Shockers continue their homestand the next two weekends against Abilene Christian (Friday, Feb. 3, 2 p.m.) and UT Arlington (Saturday, Feb. 11). Both matches will take place on the Wichita Country Club indoor courts. Admission is free.
 

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Wichita State 5, Drake 2
Jan. 28, 2023 | 12:30 p.m.
Wichita, Kan. | Wichita Country Club (Indoor)
WSU (2-1), DU (2-2)
 
Doubles:
1. Kong/Kurahashi (WSU) def. Haagensen/Stepan (Drake) – 7-6 (2)
2. Parkins-Godwin/Stephani (Drake) def. Anzo/Kudryavtseva (WSU) – 6-3
3. Hamilton/Whitaker (WSU) def. Klavinska/Lee (Drake) – 6-4
 
Singles:
1. Ines Stephani (Drake) def. Jessica Anzo (WSU) – 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5)
2. Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) def. Mille Haagensen (Drake) – 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
3. Lingwei Kong (WSU) def. Darinka Stepan (Drake) – 6-0, 6-4
4. Elizabete Klavinska (Drake) def. Kristina Kudryavtseva (WSU) – 7-6 (4), 0-6, 6-3
5. Marlene Förster (WSU) vs. Oriana Parkins-Godwin (Drake) – 0-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5
6. Harriet Hamilton (WSU) vs. Yana Gaskell (Drake) – 6-1, 6-0