LUBBOCK, Texas — Wichita State suffered a 4-3 defeat in the consolation match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend Lubbock Regional on Saturday evening at the Falls Tennis & Athletic Club.
 
The Shockers (2-3) were without Giorgia Roselli and Theodora Chantava in the match, who were battling illness. The loss was the first match result in the all-time series with Long Beach State (1-1). The teams are set to rematch on March 14 in Long Beach, Calif.
 
In doubles, competition was fierce on all three courts. Kristina Kudryavtseva and Sati Aubakirova struck first, battling to win 7-5 at No. 3 to give the Shockers the advantage.
 
The Beach was poised to take No. 1, but Tatyana Nikolenko and Xin Tong Wang fought off a 5-1 deficit to remain on the court, forcing a tie break at 6-all.
 
Anne Knuettel and Vichitraporn Vimuktananda secured a 7-5 victory at No. 2 doubles to clinch the point for the Shockers. Wang and Nikolenko's match went unfinished, up 6-4 in the tiebreak.
 
Singles play remained tightly contested, as the teams split the first sets on the four active courts.
 
Wang opened singles action with a decisive 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles to give the Shockers a 2-0 lead.
 
Long Beach State got answered with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Kudryavtseva at No. 2.
 
Vimuktananda responded minutes later with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 4, extending Wichita State's lead to 3-1.
 
The Beach rallied, defeating Knuettel 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to cut the deficit to 3-2 and then evened the score at 3-3 with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Aubakirova at No. 6.
 
With Nikolenko the lone Shocker left standing, her Long Beach opponent rallied to capture the deciding match 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.
 
Up next
The Shockers travel to Ames, Iowa, to face Iowa State on Saturday, Jan. 31, at noon CT.