March 4, 2002

Provo, Utah--- The No. 27 WSU women's tennis team won its fourth straight competition with a little drama by defeating the No. 52 BYU Cougars 4-3 Monday.

It all came down to the last match for WSU. With the match score tied at 3-3, Washington State freshman Nora Gaal defeated BYU's Nicole Schneider 6-4, 6-2 to give WSU a 4-3 victory.

"Nora played a very good match," said Washington State coach Cari Groce. "They're a good team. For us to come here today and beat them at their home is phenomenal. It was a perfect example of one team wanting to win a little more."

The win pushed Washington State's record to 4-2, while BYU fell to 4-7.

Erica Perkins, a senior ranked 67th nationally, beat Lindsay Ferrell 6-0, 6-2 at the No. 1 singles position. Stacy McKenna, ranked 34th by the ITA, posted a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Brooke Beverly.

Lorena Arias, a sophomore, lost a 6-2, 7-5 decision at No. 3 singles against Lu Oswald.

The WSU freshmen played well Monday. Orsolya Sallai won 6-4, 6-4 over Elizaveta Khoudoiarova at No. 4 singles.

BYU controlled the doubles competition by winning two of three matches and the doubles point. Freshman Chris Martinez and sophomore Zorana Roganovic won 8-6 in No. 3 doubles. In the No. 1 doubles match, WSU's No. 11 tandem of Perkins and McKenna lost 8-6 against BYU's Brooke Beverly and Dominique Reynolds. Washington State's Arias and Sallai lost 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.

The Cougars return to action Friday against Boise State in Spokane.

Singles

#1 (67) Erica Perkins (WSU) def. Lindsay Ferrell (BYU), 6-0, 6-2
#2 (34) Stacy McKenna (WSU) def. Brooke Beverly (BYU), 7-5, 6-1.
#3 Lu Oswald (BYU) def. Lorena Arias (WSU), 6-2, 7-5
#4 Orsolya Sallai (WSU) def. Elizaveta Khoudoiarova (BYU), 6-4, 6-4
#5 Dominique Reynolds (BYU) def. Chris Martinez (WSU), 6-3, 6-2
#6 Nora Gaal (WSU) def. Nicole Schneider (BYU), 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
#1 Beverly/Reynolds (BYU) def. (11) Perkins/McKenna (WSU), 8-6
#2 Ferrell/Oswald (BYU) def. Arias/Sallai (WSU), 8-3
#3 Martinez/Roganovic (WSU) def. Ronnberg/Esrock (BYU), 8-5