Jan. 19, 2013

PULLMAN, Wash. -

Washington State swept the first four singles matches in straight sets en route to a 5-2, season-opening victory over Portland State Saturday morning at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse. The win marked the eighth-straight season-opening victory for the Cougars.

In doubles play WSU's No. 3 pair of Charlotte Koning and Elizaveta Luzina struck first, defeating Megan Govi and Marti Pellicano 8-2. WSU's Liudmila Vasilieva and Lize Leenknecht clinched the doubles point at No. 2 when they defeated Mandy Mallen and Martina Todd, 8-1. At No. 1 doubles, the Cougar duo of Andjela Kankaras and Ksenia Googe were on the verge of winning before the match was abandoned as WSU had already secured the doubles point. Kankaras-Googe were leading 7-3 over Daria Burobina and Kelsey Frey when the match was stopped.

Luzina wasted no time in extending the Cougars lead to 2-0 as she defeated Mallen 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles. Kankaras followed with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 2 to put WSU on the verge on victory, up 3-0. Olga Musilovich won in similar fashion; winning 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 4 singles to clinch WSU team win.

After a close 7-5 first set, Vasilieva was able to take over and defeated Burobina 7-5, 6-3 at No. 1 singles. Vasilieva rallied for the final three games of the first set before rolling to the straight-set win.

Leenknecht fell at the No. 5 singles 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, giving Portland State its first point. At No. 6 singles, WSU's Dajana Ognjenovic, in her collegiate debut, captured the first set but could not hold on as Govi rallied for a 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7) victory. With the team outcome already decided, a tiebreaker was played in replace of a third set.

The Cougars continue their three-match home stand Sunday against No. 61 Wyoming at 9 a.m. at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY TENNIS
No. 32 Washington State 5 def. Portland State 2
January 19, 2013
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Attendance: 78
Pullman, Wash.

DOUBLES
No. 1 Andjela Kankaras and Ksenia Googe (WSU) vs. Daria Burobina and Kelsey Frey (PSU) 7-2, DNF
No. 2 Liudmila Vasilieva and Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Mandy Mallen and Martina Todd (PSU) 8-1
No. 3 Charlotte Koning and Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) def. Megan Govi and Marti Pellicano (PSU) 8-2
Order of Finish: 2,3

SINGLES
No. 1 48 Liudmila Vasilieva (WSU) def. Daria Burobina 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 Andjela Kankaras (WSU) def. Martina Todd (PSU) 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) def. Mandy Mallen (PSU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 Olga Musilovich (WSU) def. Kelsey Frey (PSU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 Marti Pellicano (PSU) def. Lize Leenknecht (WSU) 7-6(7-5), 6-3
No. 6 Megan Govi (PSU) def. Dajana Ognjenovic (WSU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 10-7
Order of Finish: 3,2,4,1,5,6