WAKE FOREST, N.C. – Washington State freshman Michaela Bayerlova made history with her opening-round victory at the 2018 NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Championship, becoming the first Cougar player to win a match at the singles championship.
 
Bayerlova, ranked No. 23 nationally, defeated Virginia Tech's 49th-ranked Natalie Novotna, 7-5, 6-1, in Wednesday's first round. After trailing 3-0 in the first set, the Cougar freshman won five of the next seven games to even the match at 5-5. She broke Novotna to take her first lead of the match to lead 6-5 then held serve to capture the opening set.
 
In the second, Novotna captured the opening game but that was all as Bayerlova elevated her play and swept the next six games to close out the match.
 
"I am very proud of the way Michaela competed today," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart. "She did a great job staying focused and bouncing back from a slow start. I think it was a great demonstration of the fight and determination she consistently plays with.
 
"To be in the final 32 of the NCAA championships is a huge accomplishment and I am so proud of her," Hart continued. However, I know she is far from satisfied and I am excited to watch her compete again Thursday. Go Cougs!"
 
Bayerlova, just the fifth player to compete at the NCAA Singles Championship for WSU, became the first to win her opening round and improved to 8-4 on the season against nationally-ranked players.
 
In their only previous meeting, Bayerlova defeated Novotna in the second round of the ITA Charleston event last fall. Bayerlova went on to win that tournament, the second professional title of her career. Novotna enters the championship with a No. 49 national ranking.
 
With her victory, Bayerlova moves into the second round where she will face No. 9-16 seed Ashley Lahey of Pepperdine, who won her first match against Clemson's Marie Leduc, 6-1, 6-3.