LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Wichita State women's tennis team dropped a road contest to the Kentucky Wildcats at Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center on Friday afternoon, 2-5.
 
"It was a heck of an effort on the road against a good Kentucky team," Head Coach Colin Foster said. "It just wasn't our day to find enough wins, but as long as we trust that this match pushed us to get better, then it will."
 
The Wildcats (5-3) remain perfect at home this season, improving to 4-0 in Lexington, while the Shockers (3-3) are now 3-2 in road contests this year.
 
In doubles, it was the Shockers taking a closely contested point, with Kristina Kudryavtseva and Anne Knuettel dealing the decisive blow at court two to give the Shockers the early lead.
 
"We spent a lot of time on doubles this past week and our energy and execution were textbook," said Foster.
 
Singles was very close in the early going, but Natsumi Kurahashi was the first to fall, losing 1-6, 6-7 (3) at No. 1 singles.
 
Kentucky's Zoe Hammond stormed back after losing the first set to defeat Anne Knuettel 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 at court four and give the Wildcats the lead, 2-1.
 
Kudryavtseva fell at court three in a close, three-set battle, 2-6, 6-3, 2-6, putting the Wildcats up 3-1.
 
Xin Tong Wang cut the deficit to one point with a tight, straight set win at court two, 7-6 (6), 7-5, turning all eyes to courts five and six to decide the match.
 
"In singles, we competed and played really well," said Foster. "We're getting great performances across the board."
 
The Wildcats locked up a victory with a sweep of Giorgia Roselli at court five, winning 6-1, 6-3. Later, Theodora Chantava fell in a three-set, ten-point tiebreak at court six to give Kentucky the final point of the match.
 
The Shockers will hurry home, as they are set to face the Tulane Green Wave on Sunday at 9:00 AM at the Wichita Country Club.