WICHITA, Kan. – The #71 Wichita State women's tennis team survived the elements and a mid-match venue change to defeat Creighton, 4-1, and finish the year with a 7-0 home record.
On a cold and windy morning, the Shockers (12-9) led 3-0 after capturing doubles plus Nos. 5 and 6 singles, but were forced indoors due to lightning.
The match resumed an hour later at Genesis Rock Road. Creighton (15-7) used the layoff as a chance to regroup, winning at No. 1 singles and staging comebacks on two other courts.
WSU's
Kristina Kudryavtseva delivered the clincher at No. 4 singles. She rallied from 5-0 down to win the first set and overcame an ankle injury in the second to win 7-5, 6-7 (9), 6-2.
Seniors Lingwei Kong and
Harriet Hamilton factored in the scoring in their last home matches. Hamilton breezed to a 6-3, 6-0 victory at No. 6 singles and Kong teamed with
Natsumi Kurahashi for the deciding doubles win at No. 2.
Head coach
Colin Foster said:
"First and foremost, a big thank you to Harriet and Lingwei for all they've done for our program. Today was a great chance to celebrate them, and they both contributed to the team win. In doubles Lingwei and Natsu really stepped up under pressure with the point on the line, and in singles Harriet quickly extended that lead to 2-0. It was tricky with poor conditions and then going inside late in singles. Kristina had a bunch of match points in the second set to clinch the match and couldn't convert, so I'm glad she was able to put that behind her and reset for that third set and get the job done."
The Shockers begin their postseason push next week in Orlando at the American Athletic Conference Championship, Wednesday through Saturday, Apr. 19-22.
#71 Wichita State 4, Creighton 1
Saturday, Apr. 15, 2023 | 9:30 a.m. CT
Wichita, Kan. | Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex
Singles:
1. Malvika Shukla (CU) def. Lingwei Kong (WSU) – 7-5, 0-6, 6-4
2.
Natsumi Kurahashi led Kate Krueger (CU) – 6-1, 3-6, 3-1 unfinished
3.Valerie Negin (CU) led
Jessica Anzo (WSU) – 4-1 unfinished
4.
Kristina Kudryavtseva (WSU) def. Ana Paula Martinez (CU) – 7-5, 6-7 (9), 6-2
5.
Theodora Chantava (WSU) def.
Bianca Rademacher (CU) – 6-4, 6-1
6.
Harriet Hamilton def. Siri Kongara (CU) – 6-3, 6-0
Doubles:
1. Anzo/Kudryavtseva (WSU) def. Kendall/Shukla (CU) – 6-2
2. Kong/Kurahashi (WSU) def. Martinez/Negin (CU) – 6-4
3. Krueger/Rademacher (CU) def. Chantava/Hamilton (WSU) – 6-1
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 3, 1, 2
Singles: 6, 5, 1, 4
Records:
CU (15-7)
WSU (12-9)
