WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State overcame a heartbreaking loss in doubles to defeat the SMU Mustangs, 4-2, on Monday at Genesis Rock Road. 
 
The Shockers (2-1) snapped a five-match losing streak against SMU (2-0) with the victory. It was Wichita State's first win against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference since a 4-3 win over Louisville on March 7, 2020.
 
"I am so proud of the team today," head coach Jacob Eddins said. "After a heartbreaking doubles point, we challenged the team to be mentally tough in the big moments of their singles matches, and they did just that. Huge credit to this team for showing resilience and never backing down."
 
In doubles, the Shockers took early control with Kristina Kudryavtseva and Theodora Chantava earning a swift 6-2 win at No. 2. SMU answered with a 6-3 defeat of Anne Knuettel and Vichitraporn Vimuktananda at No. 3, leaving the doubles point be decided at No. 1.
 
At No. 1, Giorgia Roselli and Xin Tong Wang let a 5-1 lead slip away, ultimately falling in a dramatic tiebreaker, 7-6 (7), clinching doubles for the Mustangs.
 
Moving to singles, the Shockers responded by winning five of the six first sets, gaining a significant advantage.
 
Kudryavtseva earned her second win of the day and second singles victory of the season, 6-4, 7-5 at No. 5 to level the match at 1-1.
 
Wang avenged her loss in doubles with a 6-4, 6-3 win over SMU's Sophie Llewellyn, who is ranked No. 46 in singles.
 
The Mustangs bounced back with a narrow 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Knuettel at No. 4, tying the match at 2-2.
 
Vimuktananda fought off a fierce comeback from her SMU opponent to earn a 6-1, 7-5 victory at No. 6 to put the Shockers up 3-2.
 
With Roselli and Chantava still on court and the Shockers needing just one point, Roselli delivered the clinch. 
 
Tied at 5-5 and down 30-40 in the game, Roselli won back-to-back points to break serve and take a 6-5 lead. In what would be the final game, Roselli did not lose a point, winning her second set 7-5 to secure a 6-2, 7-5 victory to win the match for Wichita State.
 
Up Next
The Shockers head to Lubbock, Texas, to face No. 10 Oklahoma State on Friday, Jan. 23, at McLeod Tennis Center.