TAMPA, Fla. -- No. 62 Wichita State played No. 59 South Florida even on Thursday afternoon but couldn't beat that Florida heat.
 
The Shockers (7-7) fell 4-3 to their American Athletic Conference rivals.
 
USF secured the deciding point when WSU's Lingwei Kong retired a closely contested No. 1 singles match due to a medical issue. She trailed 6-7, 5-4 at the time.
 
It was one of a number of what-ifs for the Shockers, who were looking to defeat USF for the first time in program history (0-7).
 
"We had a match point in the doubles," head coach Colin Foster said. "Unfortunately, in tight matches, doubles is often the difference."
 
After the schools split matches at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, WSU's top tandem of Kristina Kudryavtseva and Jessica Anzo were on the short end of a tiebreaker, 7-6 (4).
 
The Shockers piled up points in the lower half of the singles lineup.
 
Harriet Hamilton dropped just two games at No. 6 singles and in the No. 4 slot, Jessica Anzo breezed past her opponent, 6-4, 6-1.
 
Theodora Chantava went the distance (and then some) on court No. 5, winning in a third-set tiebreaker, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (4).
 
"We battled hard on every court," Foster noted. "Harriet and Jess did well to get off the court in two and give us a chance. Unfortunately, Lingwei just ran out of steam and had a medical issue that she just couldn't bounce back from in time. Tough way to lose a match, but I'm proud of the fight, going on the road and going toe-to-toe with another ranked team."
 
The Bulls (9-5) won their fifth straight match.
 
The Shockers finish out their spring break tour Sunday afternoon at Tulane (Noon CT).
 

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#59 South Florida 4, #62 Wichita State 3
Mar. 16, 2023 | Noon ET
Tampa, Fla. | USF Varsity Tennis Courts
 
Singles:
1. Grace Schumacher (USF) def. Lingwei Kong (WICH) -- 6-7 (6-8), 5-4, retired
2. Sierra Berry (USF) def. Natsumi Kurahashi (WICH) -- 6-3, 6-1
3. Laura Pellicer (USF) def. Kris. Kudryavtseva (WICH) -- 6-4, 6-3
4. Jessica Anzo (WICH) def. Ireland Simme (USF) -- 6-4, 6-1
5. Theodora Chantava (WICH) def. Marta Falceto Font (USF) -- 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4)
6. Harriet Hamilton (WICH) def. Cliona Walsh (USF) -- 6-1, 6-1"
 
Doubles:
1. Berry/Schumacher (USF) def. Kudryavtseva/Anzo (WICH) -- 7-6 (7-4)
2. Kurahashi/Kong (WICH) def. Nadja Bay Christians/Falceto Font (USF) -- 6-3
3. Pellicer/Simme (USF) def. Chantava/ Hamilton (WICH) -- 6-2
 
Match Notes:
Wichita State 7-7; National ranking #62
USF Women's Tennis 9-5; National ranking #59
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,6,2,3,1,5)