Feb. 1, 2003

Tuscaloosa, Ala.-- The No. 34 WSU women's tennis won its first match of the season with a 4-3 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday.

WSU earned the doubles point by winning two of the three doubles matches. At No. 1 singles, Washington State's 45th ranked Lorena Arias and Chris Martinez beat Penn State's Megan Marton and Judy Wang, 8-4. Nora Gaal and Zsofi Fodor took care of business at No. 3 doubles with an 8-1 victory over PSU's Sarah Spence and Lindsay Downing.

Three Cougars won their respective singles matches to give WSU the victory. At No. 3 singles, Nora Gaal defeated Penn State's Maaria Husain , 7-5, 6-3. At No. 4 singles, sophomore Chris Martinez beat Judy Wang, 7-6, 6-3. At No. 5 singles, WSU newcomer Annabel Stefanchuk edged Nittany Lion Sarah Spence, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4.

The Cougars are now 1-1 overall, while Penn State fell to 0-2. It was the first meeting between the two schools.

WSU will host Hawaii (Friday at 1:00 p.m.) and Long Beach (Saturday at 11:00 a.m.). Both matches will be played indoors in Lewiston, Idaho.

Results:
Washington State 4, Penn State 3
Singles:
1)  Megan Marton (PSU) def. Lorena Arias (WSU), 6-4, 6-4
2)  Leigh Ann Merryman (PSU) def. Orsi Sallai (WSU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
3)  Nora Gaal (WSU) def. Maaria Husain (PSU), 7-5, 6-3
4)  Chris Martinez (WSU) def. Judy Wang (PSU), 7-6, 6-3
5)  Anna Stefanchuk (WSU) def. Sarah Spence (PSU), 6-7, 7-5, 6-4
6)  Lindsay Downing (PSU) def. Zorana Roganovic (WSU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
Doubles:
1)  Arias/Martinez (WSU) def. Marton/Wang, 8-4
2)  Merryman/Husain (PSU) def. Sallai/Stefanchuk, 8-3
3)  Gaal/Zsofi Fodor (WSU) def. Spence/Downing, 8-1