The Wichita State women’s tennis team traveled to the University of Oklahoma this past weekend to compete in their first tournament of the season.

The tournament started last Friday with the singles competitors accumulating a 9-3 record for the day. This included Gabriela Porubin moving into the semi-finals of the Sooner Draw bracket.

Luca Pump and newcomer Aleksandra Trifunovic both advanced into the quarterfinals of the Switzer Draw bracket. Trifunovic stood undefeated after the first day.

The singles tournament continued on Saturday and also saw the first of the doubles matches.

Pump and Trifunovic moved into the semi-finals of the Switzer Draw after both defeating their opponents of the day.

Julia Schiller and Porubin lead the doubles’ charge into the final round of the Crimson Draw, defeating teams from Arkansas University, Denver University and Texas Tech.

Schiller and Porubin were stopped in the final round by the doubles team from Kansas State.

Head coach Colin Foster said he was pleased to see Schiller and Porubin go so far in their bracket, especially considering the limited amount of time they have had together.

“It was their first time playing together [in a tournament],” Foster said. “They aren’t able to practice much together due to different schedules, but [Gabriela] had good instinct coming into doubles and Julia is a very explosive player and they worked well together.”

Foster said the amount of practice time the doubles players have had to this point isn’t enough to develop any chemistry between partners.

This is something he says they will continue to work on in coming practices.

Trifunovic finished the tournament unbeaten, finishing the weekend with four wins.

The junior transfer from Florida International won a bonus match before leaving, but due to tournament time constraints, was not able to play a final match for her bracket.

Foster said the tournament was a good way to start the year.

“There was really strong competition across the board — no easy matches,” Foster said. “The weather was quite warm and humid so everyone was tested physically and mentally.

“On the whole, a good tournament.”

Foster said the team will take some time to recover and rest but then it’s back to work.

“We just need to keep working to get better,” he said. “They’re all very aware of what they need to improve on — the doubles need to find the right combos and build the right chemistry.”

Foster is taking three of his players, Schiller, Lucia Kovalova and Rebecca Pedrazzi, to the All-American Championships in Pacific Palisades, Calif. this weekend.

The rest of the team will continue the season Oct. 3-5 with the Missouri Valley Conference Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.