PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State University women's tennis team opened its 2008 season with two victories over visiting Eastern Washington University and University of Idaho Saturday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.

The Cougars (1-0 overall, 0-0 Pac-10) came out strong against the Eagles (0-1) by sweeping all three doubles matches. At No. 1, Ekaterina Burduli and Ekaterina Kamendova posted an 8-5 victory over Kasey Knox and Amanda Mankovits while Aleksandra Stefanova and Aleksandra Cekic clinched the doubles point with an 8-5 win at No. 2 over Marie Demerath and Sarah Leuenberger. Marina Nicolas and Bianca Selaru completed the sweep with an 8-4 victory over Kerstyn Dolack and Rachel Berger at No.3.

In singles play, the Cougars recorded straight-set wins in all six matches. Selaru was first off after a 6-1, 6-1win over Rachel Berger at No. 4, followed by Kamendova's 6-3, 6-0 win over Leuenberger at No. 3. Stefanova clinched the team victory with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Dolack at No. 2. Burduli, ranked No. 91 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, then recorded a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 1 over Knox, Nicolas had a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 5 over Demerath. Gherman closed out the match with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 6 over Mankovits.

In the second match the Cougars (2-0 overall, 0-0 Pac-10) came out tough against the Vandals by winning all three doubles matches. At No. 1, Ekaterina Burduli and Ekaterina Kamendova posted an 8-2 victory over Silvia Irimescu and Laura Leoni. Aleksandra Cekic and Aleksandra Stefanova clinched the doubles point at No. 2 with an 8-1 win over Barbara Maciocha and Yvette Ly while Bianca Selaru and Marina Nicolas finished the sweep with an 8-7 win over Jana Siwa and Alexandra Ulesanu at No. 3.

In singles play, the Cougars saw much of the same in the second match as they did in the first, as they swept all six singles positions. Stefanova was first off after an 6-1, 6-1 victory over Barbara Maciocha at No. 2 while Burduli, ranked No. 91 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, then posted a 6-3, 6-1win over Silvia Irimescu at No. 1. Kamendova clinched the match for the Cougars at No. 3 with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Alexandra Ulesanu. Bianca Selaru followed that at No. 4 with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 victory over Yvette Ly, Cekic at No. 5 posted a 6-1, 6-2 win over Jana Siwa. Marina Nicolas closed out the sweep with a 6-3, 6-7, 10-5 victory over Natalie Kirch at No. 6.

The Cougars return to action Friday Jan. 25, against the BYU at the Simmelink Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 7 def. Eastern Washington 0
January 19, 2008
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.

Doubles:
1. Burduli/Kamendova (WSU) def. Knox/Mankovits (EWU) 8-5
2. Stefanova/Cekic (WSU) def. Demerath/Leuenberger (EWU) 8-5
3. Nicolas/Selaru (WSU) def. Dolack/Berger (EWU) 8-4

Singles:
1. Ekaterina Burduli (WSU) def. Kasey Knox (EWU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Aleksandra Stefanova (WSU) def. Kerstyn Polack (EWU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Ekaterina Kamendova (WSU) def. Sarah Leuenberger (EWU) 6-3, 6-0
4. Bianca Selaru (WSU) def. Rachel Berger (EWU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Marina Nicolas (WSU) def. Marie Demerath (EWU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Livia Gherman (WSU) def. Amanda Mankovits (EWU) 6-4, 6-3

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 7 def. Idaho 0
January 19, 2008
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.

Doubles:
1. Burduli/Kamendova (WSU) def. Irimescu/Leoni (UI) 8-2
2. Cekic/Stefanova (WSU) def. Maciocha/Ly (UI) 8-1
3. Nicolas/Selaru (WSU) def. Siwa/Ulesanu (UI) 8-7

Singles:
1. Ekaterina Burduli (WSU) def. Silvia Irimescu (UI) 6-3, 6-1
2. Aleksandra Stefanova (WSU) def. Barbara Maciocha (UI) 6-1, 6-1
3. Ekaterina Kamendova (WSU) def. Alexandra Ulesanu (UI) 6-2, 7-5
4. Bianca Selaru (WSU) def. Yvette Ly (UI) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0
5. Aleksandra Cekic (WSU) def. Jana Siwa (UI) 6-1, 6-2
6. Marina Nicolas (WSU) def. Natalie Kirch (UI) 6-3, 6-7, 10-5
--wsucougars.com--