Wins against ranked opponents never come easy, but Wichita State’s women’s tennis showed plenty of tough-minded tennis this weekend.

On Saturday, WSU hosted No. 55 Fresno State at the Wichita Country Club where they were able to mount a huge comeback after being on the brink of defeat. 

Fresno State began the dual match winning the doubles point in a sweep 6-3, 6-4 at the one and three positions respectively. Being down one early meant WSU would have to win four of the six singles matches to follow.

“The doubles was disappointing, because we know we can play better,” head coach Colin Foster said.

Fresno State kept the pedal to the metal as they came out for singles play with a hard-fought win over WSU’s Lucia Kovalova 7-5, 6-4. Julia Schiller gave the Shockers their first point in the match by winning in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

Veronika Blaskova fell to Anneka Watts 6-2, 7-5 to give Fresno State a 3-1 lead, leaving them one point from match victory.

Abby Stevens refused to go down and won in a tight match 6-4, 7-5. Rebecca Pedrazzi won the only three-set match played on Saturday 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 10-4, tying the match at three.

The Country Club only has five courts, and because of the configuration, the deciding match was postponed until it was certain it was needed. 

After waiting two hours, Montse Blasco-Fernandez played Tanya Murtagh in a winner take-all final match. Even with the delay, Blasco-Fernandez played well with the support of the team behind her and completed the WSU comeback with a 6-3, 6-1 win.

“I tried to keep my nerves aside,” Blasco-Fernandez said. “I was just focused on my game and what I needed to do to beat her. It was awesome. I was patient and able to execute my game, pushing her deep and coming to the net.”

“Everyone came out with good energy in the singles,” Foster said. “It was a good win.”

On Sunday, WSU played No. 42 Illinois in another 4-3 thriller of a win. After winning the doubles point, WSU headed into singles play needing only three match wins.

The teams traded wins as Blaskova lost 6-2, 6-1, Schiller won in three sets, and Kovalova lost 6-3, 4-6, 10-2. The match stood at two points apiece.

Despite winning the first set, Pedrazzi dropped her match, but was followed shortly with a win from Stevens 7-6, 6-2. This left the match once again on the shoulders of the senior Blasco-Fernandez.

“I wasn’t nervous this time,” Blasco-Fernandez said. “I figured if I could do it once before, I could do it again.”

Blasco-Fernandez won 6-1, 6-3 to clinch a successful weekend over two ranked opponents.

“We always schedule a tough non-conference to give us chances to move up and to get better,” Foster said. “It was a good weekend.”

WSU tennis is back in action next weekend at the Wichita Country Club when they host Missouri. First serve is set for 10 a.m. Sunday.