April 12, 2008

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Pullman, Wash. - Marina Nicolas led the way for the Cougars with strong play at No. 6 which guided the Cougars to a 7-0 sweep of Montana State Saturday morning. Later in the afternoon the Cougars took five of six singles matches in a 6-1 victory over Portland State.

Following the two victories the Cougars improved to 15-9 on the season and are 1-6 in the Pac-10. With the two victories, the Cougars surpass their win total for each of the past two seasons.

WSU started things off strong against Montana State, sweeping all three doubles matches to earn an early 1-0 lead. The No.3 tandem of Aleksandra Stefanova and Aleksandra Cekic started things off with an, 8-3, victory over Nuria Hernandez and McKenzie Hilmer. Marina Nicolas and her partner Bianca Selaru clinched the point for the Cougars with an, 8-5, win over Montana State's Laura Villegas and Stephanie Jasper. At No. 1, Ekaterina Burduli and Ekaterina Kamendova finished off the sweep by defeating Allison Fey and Ali Griffen, 8-5.

In singles, the Cougars did not lose a set as they won all six singles matches. Starting at No. 1 singles, senior Ekaterina Burduli continued her strong play with a, 6-0, 6-3 win over Montana State's Stephanie Jasper. Fellow senior Aleksandra Stefanova earned a victory over Nuria Hernandez, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2. Ekaterina Kamendova downed Laura Villegas of Montana State, 6-2, 7-5 (5), at No. 3. Aleksandra Cekic increased the lead for the Cougars as she earned a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Ali Griffen at No. 4.

Bianca Selaru earned a victory after her opponent forced a tie-breaker in the second set. Selaru finished off the win with a score of, 6-2, 7-6 (3), over Remy Clark at No. 5. Marina Nicolas finished the win for the Cougars with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Allison Fey at the No. 6 spot.

Against Portland State, Washington State opened the scoring by taking two of three doubles matches for the opening point. At No. 1 doubles Burduli and Kamendova posted an 8-1 victory over Molly Knox and Lacey Pflibsen while Selaru and Nicolas clinched the opening point with an 8-3 win over Anya Dalkin and Stephanie Fuchs at No. 2. Portland State captured the No. 3 doubles match as Alyssa Ferry and Caitlin Stocking earned an 8-4 win over WSU's Cekic and Kara Konomos.

In singles play Selaru made it 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Dalkin at No. 4 singles while Nicolas increase the Cougar lead to 3-0 by posting a 6-1, 6-2 win over Ferry at No. 5. Burduli then clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Pflibsen at No. 1 singles, extending the school-record with her 90th career victory.

At No. 2 singles Aleksandra Stefanova defeated Fuchs 6-3, 6-2 while Kamendova capped the Cougar scoring with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Knnox at No. 3. The Vikings earned their lone victory at No. 6, where Stocking won a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 win over Konomos.

The Cougars return to the courts next Saturday when they host Washington in a Pacific-10 Conference match at the WSU outdoor Tennis Courts. Match time is set for noon, though Burduli, Stefanova and Konomos will be recognized on Senior Day as the three will play their final home match. Senior Day festivities begin at 11:45 a.m.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 40 Washington State 7 def. Montana State 0
April 12, 2008
WSU Outdoor Tennis Courts
Pullman, Wash.

Doubles
1.	Burduli/Kamendova (WSU) def. Fey/Griffen (MS) 8-5
2.	Nicolas/Selaru (WSU) def. Villegas/Jasper (MS) 8-5
3.	Stefanova/Cekic (WSU) def. Hernandez/Hilmer (MS) 8-3

Singles
1.	Ekaterina Burduli (WSU) def. Stephanie Jasper (MS) 6-0, 6-3
2.	Aleksandra Stefanova (WSU) def. Nuria Hernandez (MS) 6-1, 6-1
3.	Ekaterina Kamendova (WSU) def. Laura Villegas (MS) 6-2, 7-6 (5)
4.	Aleksandra Cekic (WSU) def. Ali Griffen (MS) 6-2, 6-1
5.	Bianca Selaru (WSU) def. Remy Clark (MS) 6-2, 7-6 (3)
6.	Marina Nicolas (WSU) def. Allison Fey (MS) 6-1, 6-2