LOCKPORT, Ill. -- Wichita State went 10-0 over the first two days of qualifying but suffered three close defeats in bracket play to settle for a fourth-place finish at the Flyer Classic.
#3 Jacksonville State took down #6 North Carolina A&T in the finals to claim the championship.
The Shockers (53-23) stormed through the Baker and Traditional matches, besting #25 Valparaiso, Marian, Augustana, #9 Stephen F. Austin and Quincy on Friday before taking down Aurora, #2 Vanderbilt, #20 Tulane, #10 Maryville, and #6 North Carolina A&T on Saturday. Wichita State put up scores of 990 or better in all 10 matches, including four showings of 1,100 or more. Senior
Mary Orf shot a 299 in Saturday's finale against North Carolina A&T, the highest individual game for a Shocker this season.
Orf's 299 propelled her to third in the individual standings and a spot on the All-Tournament team for a second straight weekend, posting a 231.6 average.
Ashtyn Woods (222.2 average) also snagged an All-Tournament spot for the Shockers.
Piper Reams (211.6) and Sara Duque Jimenez (199.8) also put together strong showings. Emma Yoder of Jacksonville State took home MVP honors, posting a 235.2 average.
Wichita State entered bracket play seeded #2 behind Jacksonville State, who had averaged 219.5 over the first two days to top the team standings. The defending NCAA champions bested WSU 4-2 in the opening round, sending the Shockers to a matchup with North Carolina A&T for a spot in the finals. Wichita State grabbed an early 2-1 lead, but the Aggies fired back with two straight wins to claim a 3-2 advantage. The Shockers put up a 245-181 victory that forced a decisive seventh game, which North Carolina A&T seized by the thinnest of margins, 216-212.
In the third place match against #1 Nebraska, the Shockers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to force another seventh game. The Huskers pulled away late, winning 234-203 to send Wichita State to fourth place.
The Shockers will be right back in action next weekend at the Mid-Winter Invitational in Jonesboro, Arkansas, hosted by Arkansas State. The tournament begins on Friday, February 14 at Hijinx.
