TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 45 Arizona Wildcats captured three singles matches to clinch a 4-1 victory over the No. 50 Washington State Cougars Friday afternoon at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. With the loss the Cougars fall to 15-4 (1-2 Pac-12) while Arizona improves to 13-1 (2-0).
Play began with doubles and the Wildcats picked up to wins to secure the opening point. Akilah James and Susan McRann posted an 8-1 win over Charlotte Koning and Dajana Ognjenovic at No. 3 doubles. Kim Stubbe and Lauren Marker then sealed the point with an 8-3 win over Maria Biryukova and Olga Musilovich at No. 2. Play was halted at No. 1 with the Cougar duo of Elizaveta Luzina and Lize Leenknecht leading Lacey Smyth and Shayne Austin, 5-4.
In singles action Arizona wasted little time extending its lead. At No. 5 Austin had little trouble with Ognjenovic, winning 6-1, 6-0, while Laura Oldham was equally convincing with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Koning at No. 6.
Washington State earned its only point when Musilovich recorded a straight-set win over Akilah, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 singles. The Wildcats then clinched the team victory when Stubbe defeated Leenknecht at No. 2, 6-2, 6-3.
The remaining two matches on court were stopped with the team outcome decided. At No. 1, Luzina dropped the first set 6-3 but was up a break in the second 5-3. At No. 3, Biryukova won the first set 7-5 against Marker and was down 2-4 in the second.
Washington State returns to the court Saturday morning when it faces No. 25 Arizona State in Tempe. Match time is set for 10:30 a.m.
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 45 Arizona 4 def. No. 50 Washington State 1
March 21, 2014
Tucson, Ariz.
SINGLES
1. Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) vs. Lacey Smyth (ARIZ) 3-6, 5-3 DNF
2. Kim Stubbe (ARIZ) def. Lize Leenknecht (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Maria Biryukova (WSU) vs. Lauren Marker (ARIZ) 7-5, 2-4 DNF
4. Olga Musilovich (WSU) def. Akilah James (ARIZ) 6-3, 6-2
5. Shayne Austin (ARIZ) def. Dajana Ognjenovic (WSU) 6-1, 6-0
6. Laura Oldham (ARIZ) def. Charlotte Koning (WSU) 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish: 5,6,4,2
DOUBLES
1. Elizaveta Luzina/Lize Leenknecht (WSU) vs. Lacey Smyth/Shayne Austin (ARIZ) 5-4
2. Kim Stubbe/Lauren Marker (ARIZ) def. Maria Biryukova/Olga Musilovich (WSU) 8-3
3. Akilah James/Susan McRann (ARIZ) def. Charlotte Koning/Dajana Ognjenovic (WSU) 8-1
Order of Finish: 3,2
