Sept. 23, 2007

PULLMAN, Wash. -Washington State tennis senior Ekaterina Burduli took home the No.1 singles championship during the final day of the Cougar Classic. Burduli was joined by teammates Aleksandra Stefanova, Marina Nicolas, Ekaterina Kamendova, and Bianca Selaru in tournament finals.

Ekaterina Burduli defeated Boise State's Bianca Jochimsen 6-0, 6-4 to capture the title. Burduli dominated tournament play on her way to the championship. She has a preseason rank of No. 113 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The other Cougar to capture a championship was freshman Marina Nicolas. She defeated Anna Gullickson of Portland on route to the No. 3 singles championship. Gullickson gave Nicolas her toughest competition of the tournmant. Prior to the championship match Nicolas had only lost five games in her first three matches.

"I'm proud of the way both Eka and Marina represented our team," Washington State Head Coach Lisa Hart said. "This weekend showed us where we are and what we need to do to get where we need to be."

WSU senior Aleksandra Stefanova took home second place in the No. 2 singles bracket. She was defeated by Rika Mehndiratta of Gonzaga in a tough match that Stefanova continuously kept battling back into. Mehndirtta ended up winning the tough fought battle against Stefanova to take the championship.

WSU duo Burduli and Kamendova earned second place as well. The teammates had a tough match against Boise State's Bianca Jochimsen and Laura Baum in the No. doubles. The match was won by the Boise State duo 8-3.

Selaru and Nicolas took second place against Rika Mehndiratta and Danielle Farmer of Gonzaga in the No. 2 doubles championship. It was a tough fought match that the Gonzaga duo won 8-6.

2007 Cougar Classic Day Three Results
#1 Singles
Championship
Ekaterina Burduli (WSU) def. Bianca Jochimsen (BSU) 6-0, 6-4
Consolation
Aleksandra Cekic (WSU) def. Irimescu (Idaho), 6-1, 6-4
Backdraw
Martyna Nowak (Montana) def. Kerstyn Dolack (EWU), 6-3, 7-6, 6-3
Kasey Knox (EWU) def. Lindsey Griffin (Portland), 6-3 7-5
Emily Anderson (Gonzaga def. Megan Sporndli (Portland), 7-6, 9-7, 6-3
Aglaya Kokurina (Gonzaga) def. Ekaterina Kamendova (WSU), 6-7, 7-5, 6-1
#2 Singles
Championship
Rika Mehndiratta (Gonzaga) def. Aleksandra Stefanova (WSU), 7-5, 7-6, 7-4
Consolation
Rebecca Berger (Wyoming) def. Rebecca Bran (Montana), 6-2, 6-1
Backdraw
Danielle Farmer (Gonzaga) def. Kristen MacWilliam (Gonzaga), Default
Amanda Bran (Montana) def. Jana Siwa (Idaho), 7-6, 6-0
Rachel Berger (EWU) def. Yvette Ly (Idaho), 4-5, 6-0, 11-9
Stefanie Doolittle (Portland) def. Jamie Nelson (Wyoming), 6-0, 6-0
#3 Singles
Championship
Marina Nicolas (WSU) def. Anna Gullickson (Portland), Score Not Available
Backdraw
Jessica Souza (Montana) def. Kayla Dantzler (Idaho), 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
Jessica Gomez (WSU) def. Carly VanHollen (Wyoming), Score Not Available
Carrie Schofield (Gonzaga) def. Sarah Leuenberger (EWU), Score Not Available
Courtney Lau (Gonzaga) def. Amanda Mankovits (EWU), Score Not Available
#4 Singles
Championship
Michelle Brown (Wyoming) def. Carolina Chaix (Wyoming), 7-5, 6-4
Consolation
Laura Housinger (Gonzaga) def. Kara Konomos (WSU), 6-7, 7-5, 6-2
Backdraw
Cara Lehman (Montana) def. Allyson Lee (Gonzaga) 7-6, 7-5, 6-1
Katie Colton (Gonzaga) def. Livia Gherman (WSU), Default
Elaine Aragones (EWU) def. Nicole Fleckenstein (Portland), Default
#1 Doubles
Championship
Jochimsen/Baum (BSU) def. Burduli/Kamendova (WSU), 8-3
Consolation
Doolittle/Tanzer (Portland) def. Demerath/Dolack (EWU), 8-5
Backdraw
Griffin/Sporndli (Portland) def. Cekic/Gomez (WSU), 8-3
Knox/Mankovits (EWU) def. Anderson/Kokurina (Gonzaga) 8-5
#2Doubles
Championship
Mehndiratta/Farmer (Gonzaga) def. Selaru/Nicolas (WSU), 8-6
Consolation
Lau/Dodge (Gonzaga) def. Gherman/Stefanova (WSU), Default
Backdraw
Gullickson/Jenks (Portland) def. Souza/Lehman (Montana), 8-3
Leuenberger/Berger (EWU) def. Ly/Kirch (Idaho), Default