Cougars Post 5-2 Win at Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. – Washington State completed a two-match sweep through the Pacific Northwest by completing a 5-2 victory over Portland Monday afternoon at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center. On Sunday, the Cougars opened Pac-12 Conference play with a 4-3 win at No. 21 Oregon. The Cougars opened the match by capturing the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and 3. It marked the 15th time in 17 matches this season WSU entered singles with the lead. In singles play the Pilots started fast, taking a 2-1 lead following victories at No. 2 and 3 singles. WSU freshman Michaela Bayerlova evened the match at 2-2 with a come-from-behind victory at No. 1, her 21st victory this season. The remaining three matches took care of business as No. 6 Melisa Ates posted a straight-set victory while Barbora Michalkova clinched the team win with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 4. Junior Aneta Miksovska closed out the day with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 5. The Cougars are next in action Friday, March 23, when they travel to Los Angeles to face No. 47 USC.

Coach Hart on the Match:
"A ton of credit to Portland, they are a very well coached team and competed extremely well. You learn the most about teams when they face adversity. We had our backs against the wall today and had to find a way to win. What I love about our team is we have done a good job of finding points throughout the line-up with everyone sharing turns of stepping up when needed. We will enjoy the win today, take a few days off and then start preparing for USC and UCLA next weekend."

Moments of the Match:

#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/j5DvVJ42NB
— WSU COUGAR TENNIS (@WSUCOUGARTENNIS) March 13, 2018

Bara (#4) wins her match and clinches the 4-2 team victory for the COUGS. Aneta (#5) still on, up 6-3 5-0 in her match, trying to make it 5-2. #GoCougs #GCT pic.twitter.com/be6zYai5Jw
— WSU COUGAR TENNIS (@WSUCOUGARTENNIS) March 12, 2018

Melisa (#6) puts the COUGS up 3-2 in the match. Bara (#4) and Aneta (#5) still on to claim the 4th and deciding point. #GoCougs #GCT pic.twitter.com/SQbbFsSpKv
— WSU COUGAR TENNIS (@WSUCOUGARTENNIS) March 12, 2018

Things You Need to Know:

WSU improved to 14-0 all-time against Portland
WSU's current nine-match winning streak is its longest since opening the 2016 season with 12 straight.
WSU captured the doubles point for the 15th time in 17 dual matches
Freshman Michaela Bayerlova improved to 21-1 in singles this season
Sophomore Melisa Ates improved to 21-5 on the season and is currently riding a seven-match win streak
Senior Barbora Michalkova clinched the team victory at No. 4, her third match-clinching win this season
Junior Aneta Miksovska improved her singles record to 22-5 this season.
WSU returns to Pac-12 conference play March 23 when it visits No. 47 USC in Los Angeles.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 50 Washington State 5 def. Portland 2
March 12, 2018
Portland, Ore.

DOUBLES

Barbora Michalkova/Melisa Ates (WSU) vs. Jelena Lukic/Anna Oberg (Port.) 5-5 DNF
Guzal Yusupova/Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) def. Raphaelle Leblanc/Lourdes Ramalle (Port.) 6-0
Michaela Bayerlova/Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Radina Dimitrova/Emily Soares (Port.) 6-4

Order of Finish: 2,3

SINGLES

No. 49 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. Jelena Lukic (Port.) 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-1
Radina Dimitrova (Port.) def. Guzal Yusupova (WSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Lourdes Ramalle (Port.) def. Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) 7-6 (4), 6-3
Barbora Michalkova (WSU) def. Raphaella Leblanc (Port.) 7-5, 6-4
Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Emily Soares (Port.) 6-3, 6-1
Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Nina Nikitovic (Port.) 6-4, 6-0

Order of Finish: 3,2,1,6,4,5

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Players Mentioned

Melisa Ates

Michaela Bayerlova

Barbora Michalkova

Aneta Miksovska

Tiffany Mylonas

Guzal Yusupova

Washington State University Athletics