OMAHA, Neb. – Despite senior Malvika Shukla becoming the 20th Bluejay in program history to record 100 career wins, the Creighton women’s tennis team dropped their season-opening match to Wichita State, 5-2, on Saturday afternoon at the Hanscom Tennis Center in Omaha.
The loss drops the Bluejays to 0-1 on the season, while the Shockers improved to 1-1 with the victory.
Shukla captured her 100th career victory in dramatic fashion, securing a three-set win on the top singles court. The Mumbia, India native dropped her opening set 6-4, but responded nicely with a 6-4 win of her own in the second frame, forcing a decisive third set. In the third frame, Shukla soared out to an early 5-3 lead, only before Wichita State’s Wang clawed back to snag a 9-8 advance and set up match point. Shukla answered the call and finished the match with three straight game-winners to secure the 11-9 victory.
Senior Bianca Rademacher was the only other Bluejay to record a victory on opening day. The Lincoln, Neb. lost her first set, 6-1, be recovered and closed out a 6-3 victory in set two. In the third set Rademacher cruised to a 6-2 triumph to secure the three-set victory.
Wichita State claimed the early lead in the match with win at the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles positions and continued their strong play into singles play, clinching the match wins win at the No. 2, No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 single positions.
Creighton returns to the courts on Friday, January 26 when they travel north to battled Minnesota at 4 p.m. in Minneapolis.