WICHITA FALLS, Texas – MSU Denver junior star Tabitha Porter (Auckland, New Zealand/Northcote College) came up just short in the defense of her ITA South Central Regional title on Sunday, advancing to the singles final but ultimately dropping the championship match to third-seeded Zhenia Shviadok of Cameron University (3-6, 2-6).

Fifth-seeded Porter started the day by overcoming a decent dose of adversity in her semifinal matchup with Shviadok's doubles partner, eighth-seeded Sarah Frendo. Porter dropped the first set to Frendo, 6-1, but stormed back and dominated in the final two sets, winning 6-2 and 6-3 to advance to the regional final.

Though the singles final was familiar territory for Porter, who was the ITA South Central Regional champion last season, she couldn't secure a trip to the ITA Cup for the second consecutive season.

Nonetheless, Porter has put together a tremendous fall season thus far. She will look to cap the fall schedule with a bang as the MSU Denver men's and women's tennis teams travel to Grand Junction, Colo., on Friday for the Colorado Mesa Duals. The women will take on Dixie State at 9 a.m. MT on Friday before a matchup with host Colorado Mesa at 4 p.m. that day. The men's team will start with Colorado Mesa at 9 a.m. before a 4 p.m. match with CSU-Pueblo.

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Sunday's Results

WOMEN
Singles, Semifinals
Tabitha Porter (Auckland, New Zealand/Northcote College) (MSU Denver) def. Sarah Frendo (Cameron), 1-6, 6-2, 6-3

Singles, Finals
Zhenia Shviadok (Cameron) def. Tabitha Porter (Auckland, New Zealand/Northcote College) (MSU Denver), 6-3, 6-2