March 18, 2012

PULLMAN, Wash. - Freshman Charlotte Koning's victory at No. 5 singles clinched Washington State University's second-straight upset of a top 30 team as the Cougars defeated No. 27 Arizona State, 5-2, in a Pac-12 Conference match Sunday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.

With the win the Cougars improve to 12-4, 2-2 in conference play, and cap a weekend that included a win over No. 26 Arizona and the school's first victory in 19 matches against the Sun Devils (8-3, 0-1).

With WSU leading 3-2, Koning closed out the match at No. 5 singles, defeating Joanna Smith 6-2, 6-4 for the deciding point. She improved to 13-4 for the season and gave the unranked Cougars its first back-to-back wins over top-30 opponents in school history.

"Charlotte certainly played with a great deal of composure today in a very big situation," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart. "I think that could also be said for our entire team. To beat back-to-back opponents the caliber Arizona and Arizona State is a testament to the strides this team has made."

In doubles play the Sun Devils captured the opening point by winning at both No. 2 and No. 3. Arizona State's second duo of Michelle Brycki and Joanna Smith defeated Elisabeth Fournier and Koning, 8-4, followed by Leighann Sahagun and Sianna Simmons' 8-5 victory over Liudmila Vasilieva and Olga Musilovich. At No. 1 doubles, Jacqueline Cako and Hannah James of Arizona State led Andjela Kankaras and Ksenia Googe 7-5 when the match was abandoned with the doubles point already in hand.

As the match turned to singles Kankaras evened the match as she posted a straight-set win over James, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4. The victory was the 19th of the season for Kankaras and gave her a weekend sweep against the Arizona schools.

In a battle between two top-50 players, No. 9 Cako came from two breaks down in the first set to grind out a 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 43 Vasilieva. Down 1-4 in the first, Cako rallied for the next five games to win the first set, 6-4. Vasilieva opened the second set with a break of serve and led 2-0 before Cako battled back for a 3-2 led. After each player held serve, Cako earned the break then served out the match, winning 6-4, 6-3 to put ASU up 2-1. The loss was just the third for Vasilieva this season, against 27 victories, with two of the three setbacks coming against top-10 opponents.

At No. 3 Googe jumped out to an early 3-0, only to see Simmons fight back to take a 4-3 advantage in the first set. The went to a tiebreaker in the first, with Simmons holding two set points at 6-4 before Googe captured the final four points for a 7-6 opening set. In the second Googe led 3-0 en route to a 6-1 win, tying the match at 2-2.

Fournier gave the Cougars their first lead of the match as she rallied for a three-set win over Brycki at No. 2. After leading 4-2 in the first, Fournier dropped the next four games to Brycki, setting up the comeback. Fournier used two service breaks to win the second 6-2 then never trailed in the third set, winning 6-3 and giving WSU a 3-2 advantage. The win also marked the 100th of Fournier's career as she extended her school record.

Musilovich closed out the match as she rallied from a set down to defeat Sahagun, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0. With the match already clinched, the third set consisted of a 10-point tiebreaker, which Musilovich won 10-4.

The Cougars return to the court Saturday when they travel to Berkeley to take on No. 9 California. Match time is set for noon.

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY TENNIS
Washington State 5 def. No. 27 Arizona State 2
March 18, 2012
Simmelink Tennis Court at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.

DOUBLES

SINGLES
No. 1 No. 9 Jacqueline Cako (ASU) def. No. 43 Liudmila Vasilieva (WSU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 Elisabeth Fournier (WSU) def. Michelle Brycki (ASU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 Ksenia Googe (WSU) def. Sianna Simmons (ASU) 7-6 (6), 6-1
No. 4 Andjela Kankaras (WSU) def. Hannah James (ASU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 5 Charlotte Koning (WSU) def. Joanna Smith (ASU) 6-2, 6-4
No. 6 Olga Musilovich (WSU) def. Leighann Sahagun (ASU) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-4)
Order of Finish: 4,1,3,2,5,6