WICHITA, Kan. — No. 57 Wichita State suffered its second straight defeat with a 4-2 loss to VCU on Friday at Genesis Rock Road.
 
The loss for the Shockers (12-9) marked their first back-to-back defeats since January, when they opened the season with three consecutive losses.
 
In doubles, VCU (6-10) jumped on the Shockers early, taking 4-1 leads at No. 2 and No. 3. The Rams closed out the match at No. 2, winning the final two games for a 6-1 victory. At No. 3, a comeback bid by Felix Bockelmann-Evans and Alejandro Jacome fell short in a 6-4 loss, clinching the doubles point for VCU. It was the first time Wichita State had lost the doubles point since Feb. 13 at Boise State.
 
In singles, the teams split the first sets at three apiece.
 
Zaid Al Mashni was first to finish, earning a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 2 to tie the match at 1-1.
VCU responded with straight-set wins over Jacome, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4, and Luke Bracks, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 6, taking a 3-1 lead.
 
After dropping the first set, Amir Milushev trailed 6-4 in a second-set tiebreak before rallying to win the next four points and secure a 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
 
The Shockers' comeback bid ended at No. 1, where Worthington was defeated 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-2, clinching the match for VCU.
 
Up next
The Shockers travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to face Drake on April 4.