Southern Illinois University
Wichita State
Wichita State stops Women's Tennis' championship run
04/30/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Tennis
April 30, 2011
By Dana Ingraham
SIUSalukis.com
SAINT LOUIS, Mo. -- Southern Illinois ended its postseason run with a 4-0 loss to Wichita State Saturday morning in the semifinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference championship.
The Salukis (12-13) suffered a similar shutout at the hands of the Shockers back on April 9 in Carbondale, and didn't have quite enough magic to turn it around this time.
"It's always a tough match playing Wichita, but our players played with heart, courage and spirit," said head coach Audra Nothwehr. "We really made the match exciting even though the end score did not reflect that."
Southern fell in doubles play once again, although Vishakha Sheoran and Anita Lee put up a fight at the No. 3 spot but were unable to finish.
Wichita State posted straight-set wins at second, third and fifth singles to pick up the last three points it needed to advance, but the matches they didn't get to finish were some of the Salukis' best of the day.
At No. 1 singles, Melanie Delsart was up one set on the two-time MVC Player of the Year Lutfiana Budiharto and was up again 3-2 in the second set when her match was halted.
Korey Love took her first set at fourth singles, also by a 6-2 margin, and was tied at three in the second set when the match ended.
In the last match of her Saluki career, Sheoran was down a set but battled back to a 5-5 tie in the second. She will be the only one lost from Southern's roster for next season.
"I'm really proud of the effort we put forth. Melanie and Korey both played very well at their positions today and Vee has just been a great inspiration and leader this year," said Nothwehr.
The Dawgs won three out of their last four matches before bowing out of the MVC tournament. Wichita State (16-9) moves on to play the winner of Illinois State and Northern Iowa for the Valley title Sunday morning.
Wichita State 4, Southern Illinois 0
Apr 30, 2011 at Dwight Davis Tennis Center
Singles competition
1. Budiharto, Lutfiana (WSU) vs. Delsart, Melanie (SIU) 2-6, 3-2, unfinished
2. Blaskova, Veronika (WSU) def. Lee, Anita (SIU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Damaschin, Delia (WSU) def. Dien, Jennifer (SIU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Carla Venticinque (WSU) vs. Love, Korey (SIU) 2-6, 3-3, unfinished
5. Montse Blasco Fernan (WSU) def. Simons, Anastacia (SIU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Brockman, Valerie (WSU) vs. Sheoran, Vishakha (SIU) 6-1, 5-5, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Blaskova, Veronika/Montse Blasco Fernan (WSU) vs. Delsart, Melanie/Dien, Jennifer (SIU) 8-6
2. Damaschin, Delia/Carla Venticinque (WSU) def. Love, Korey/Simons, Anastacia (SIU) 8-2
3. Brockman, Valerie/Budiharto, Lutfiana (WSU) def. Sheoran, Vishakha/Lee, Anita (SIU) 8-7, unfinished
Players Mentioned
