WICHITA – Wichita State defeated Denver, 4-3, Sunday at Genesis Health Clubs in its third home win of the season.
 
"The guys competed hard and did everything we asked, so it was a good home win for us," head coach Darragh Glavin said.
 
The Shockers found their groove in doubles as Misha Kvantaliani and Orel Ovil played their first dual match as a pair, winning quickly, 6-1, at No. 2. Richey King and Luke Bracks clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win at court three just before Kristof Minarik and Alex Richards had the chance to finish off their opponents at court one, leaving the match unfinished up 5-3.
 
Wichita State won four of six first sets in singles, one of which was a hard-fought tiebreaker at No. 1. Minarik, still forced to serve underhand, battled to a 7-6 (5) set one win before falling in the second set 1-6 and retiring down 1-5 in the third.
 
Richards made quick work of his singles opponent at court four, claiming the first of three straight-set victories for the Shockers, 6-1, 6-2. Ovil was the next to finish, increasing the Shockers' lead to 3-0 with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win at No. 3.
 
Alejandro Jacome picked up his sixth singles win of the season at court five, 6-4, 6-4, clinching the match for the Shockers.
 
After Minarik retired, the remaining two matches were played out and the Pioneers won at court two in two sets and court six in three sets to conclude the match.
 
The Shockers continue their home stretch with a doubleheader Sunday, Feb. 19 against Nebraska and Northwest Missouri State at noon and 3 p.m.

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Wichita St. 4, Denver 3
 
Singles competition
1. Daniel Sancho Arbizu (DEN) def. Kristof Minarik (WSU) 6-7, 6-1, 1-5, retired
2. Nicolas Cuesta (DEN) def. Misha Kvantaliani (WSU) 7-5, 7-6
3. Orel Ovil (WSU) def. Peter Sallay (DEN) 7-6, 6-4
4. Alex Richards (WSU) def. Conner Olsen (DEN) 6-1, 6-2
5. Alejandro Jacome (WSU) def. Charlie Miller (DEN) 6-4, 6-4
6. Raffaello Papajcik (DEN) def. Duccio Petreni (WSU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Kristof Minarik/Alex Richards (WSU) vs. Nicolas Cuesta/Daniel Sancho Arbizu (DEN) 5-3, unfinished
2. Misha Kvantaliani/Orel Ovil (WSU) def. Charlie Miller/Conner Olsen (DEN) 6-1
3. Luke Bracks/Richey King (WSU) def. Raffaello Papajcik/Peter Sallay (DEN) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Denver 2-4
Wichita St. 5-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,3,5,1,2,6)