RUSTON – Upset-minded Louisiana Tech fell at home for the first time this season, dropping a 4-1 match to 67th-ranked Wichita State on a sunny Thursday afternoon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
LA Tech (10-6) had a path to four points, up in doubles and then up a set on half of the singles courts.  However, WSU (7-6) came back to snatch the doubles point and got a trio of straight-set singles victories to claim the team win.
 
The Bulldogs had the upper hand on a pair of doubles court, taking a 4-1 advantage at the No. 1 and No. 3 spot.  The duo of Maria Tsironi and Alice Brook, playing on court three for the first time this spring fought off a late fury by Sati Aubakirova and Tatyana Nikolenko to win 6-4.
 
On the other hand, the Bulldog tandem of Ana Rodrigues and Zoie Epps could not stop the bleeding versus Xin Tong Wang and Giorgia Roselli.  After reeling off four straight games to take a 4-1 lead, LA Tech was on the losing end of four deciding deuce points as the Shockers countered with five straight games to take the match and the opening point.
 
WSU then got the first singles win of the day, winning in straight sets on court four.  However, that deficit was sliced in half by the Bulldogs when Epps delivered a 6-4, 6-1 win over Kristina Kudryavtseva at the No. 2 position for her 14th win of the spring.
 
Meanwhile, Rodrigues held serve to force a first-set tiebreaker and took it, 7-6 (4), against 123rd-ranked Wang on court one while Mio Kozaki grabbed the first set, 6-2, on court six.  The Shockers would close out the match though with straight set wins on courts three and five.
 
UP NEXT
LA Tech will be back in action on Friday, March 21 when the Bulldogs host their first Conference USA match against New Mexico State.  First set is set for Noon CT at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
 
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