Feb. 16, 2013

PULLMAN, Wash. - Liudmila Vasilieva's come-from-behind, three-set victory at No. 1 singles sparked No. 35 Washington State to a 5-2 over Nevada Saturday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts in the Hollingbery Fieldhouse.

Midway through singles play, with the team score even at 2-2, Vasilieva was pushed to the edge in a crucial match at No. 1. Trailing 6-1, 3-1, Vasilieva rallied back to win a close second set to even the match. Vasilieva jumped out early in the third set and never trailed, defeating Michelle Okhremchuk 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 to put the Cougars up 3-2.

To start off singles, Elizaveta Luzina gave the Cougars their first point of the day, defeating Sophie Stevens 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4. At No. 2, Ksenia Googe fell to Emma Verberne 6-1, 6-3. Andjela Kankaras was pushed to three sets in her match. With the match tied at one set a-piece, Kankaras built some momentum in the third set and cruised to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Sheila Smiley.

Olga Musilovich defeated Juliette Legendre 6-1, 6-1, ensuring a Cougar victory at No. 5. The win increases Musilovich's dual match streak to 10. Charlotte Koning closed out play for the Cougars, defeating Rymma Maslova 6-0, 7-5.

In doubles action, the Cougar pairing of Musilovich and Googe made quick work of their opponents, defeating Maslova and Smiley 8-1 at No. 2. At No. 1, Vasilieva and Luzina struggled to get anything going, falling to Nevada's Okhremchuk and Verberne 8-2.

In the third and deciding doubles match at No. 3, Cougar duo Kankaras and Koning started slow. Down 3-1, the WSU doubles group rallied to a 7-6 lead. They were unable to hold off the Nevada pairing of Stevens and Legendre, falling 9-7.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS

No. 35 Washington State def. Nevada, 5-2
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Attendance: 55
February 16, 2013

Doubles

1. Okhremchuk/Verberne (UN) def. Vasilieva/Luzina (WSU) 8-2
2. Googe/Musilovich (WSU) def. Maslova/Smiley (UN) 8-1
3. Stevens/Legendre (UN) def. Kankaras/Koning (WSU) 9-7
Order of finish: 2,1,3

Singles
1. Liudmila Vasilieva (WSU) def. Michelle Okhremchuk (UN) 1-6, 7-5, 6-2
2. Emma Verberne (UN) def. Ksenia Googe (WSU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Andjela Kankaras (WSU) def. Sheila Smiley (UN) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
4. Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) def. Sophie Stevens (UN) 6-2, 6-3
5. Olga Musilovich (WSU) def. Juliette Legendre (UN) 6-1, 6-1
6. Charlotte Koning (WSU) def. Rymma Maslova (UN) 6-0, 7-5
Order of finish: 4,2,3,1,5,6