PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State tennis team opened its 2015 dual season in convincing fashion with a 7-0 victory against Seattle, followed by a 6-1 win over Idaho, Thursday at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.

Starting with Seattle, the day began with doubles play as the Cougars quickly captured the opening points with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. At No. 1, Elizaveta Luzina and Lize Leenknecht posted a 6-2 win over Michelle Lui and Kelli Woodman, while Victoria Matejevic and Donika Bashota clinched the point with a 6-2 win over Sari Kwee and Kristen James. At No. 2, the Cougar duo of Maria Biryukova and Nastia Vasyukhina led 5-2 over Madison Maloney and Barbara Carey when the match was stopped.

In singles action, Biryukova quickly made it 2-0 as she had little trouble with Woodman, winning 6-3, 6-2. At No. 2. Matejevic followed close behind as she posted a 6-4, 6-2 win over Carey at No. 4, giving WSU a 3-0.

Leenknecht clinched the match for the Cougars as she rallied from a set down to defeat Maloney, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Leenknecht was down a set and 3-1 before winning 11 of the final 12 games to close out the match. Vasyukhina rolled past Kaitlyn Skjonsby, winning 6-0, 6-0 at No. 5.

Luzina played the longest match of the day as she withstood three close sets, pulling out a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Lui at No. 1. Monahan closed out the match at No. 6 with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Kwee, completing the Cougar sweep.

The 7-0 victory against Seattle marks the 10th-straight year the Cougars began the season with a victory and second-straight year with an opening day sweep.

Later in the day, the Cougars found themselves in trouble dropping the doubles point to Idaho. The No. 3 pair of Biryukova and Monahan fell to Rita Bermudez and Lucia Badillos, 6-4, while Idaho's Galina Bykova and Sophie Vickers outdueled No. 2 Bashota and Matejevic, 7-6 (5). The No.1 duo, Luzina and Leenknecht, saved the Cougars from being swept posting a 7-5 over Idaho's Beatriz Flores and Emmie Marx.

Despite falling behind early, the Cougars were resilient, winning all six singles matches.

Leenknecht, at No.3, quickly put WSU on the scoreboard by dominating Vickers with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 effort. At No. 1, Biryukova followed her lead, outdueling Marx with an impressive 6-2, 6-3 victory. At No.4, Bashota kept the Cougars hot streak alive with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Badillos.

Luzina, at No. 2, played the longest match for the second time of the day but clinched the team victory as she rallied in the third set, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

Matejevic never lost a beat as she rolled over Flores, 6-1, 6-1. Vasyukhina finished the day, posting a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Rita Bermudez.

The Cougars look to remain undefeated as Boise State comes to Pullman, Saturday, Jan. 24. The match is slated to begin at 10 a.m. at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 53 Washington State 7 def. Seattle 0
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
January 22, 2015
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Elizaveta Luzina/Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Michelle Liu/Kelli Woodman (SU) 6-2
No. 2 Maria Biryukova/Nastia Vasyukhina (WSU) vs. Madison Maloney/Barbara Carey (SU) 5-2, DNF
No. 3 Victoria Matejevic/Donika Bashota (WSU) def. Sari Kwee/Kristen James (SU) 6-2
Order of Finish: 1,3

SINGLES
No. 1 Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) def. Michelle Lui (SU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
No. 2 Maria Biryukova (WSU) def. Kelli Woodman (SU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Madison Maloney (SU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 4 Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Barbara Carey (SU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 Nastia Vasyukhina (WSU) def. Kailyn Skjonsby (SU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 Holly Monahan (WSU) def. Sari Kwee (SU) 6-4, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2,4,3,5,1,6

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 53 Washington State 6 def. Idaho 1
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
January 22, 2015
 
Doubles
No. 1 Elizaveta Luzina/Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Beatriz Flores and Emmie Marx 7-5
No. 2 Galina Bykova/Sophie Vickers (UI) def. Donika Bashota/Victoria Matejevic (WSU) 7-6 (5)
No. 3 Rita Bermudez/Lucia Badillos (UI) def. Holly Monahan/Maria Biryukova 6-4
Finish order: 3,1,2

Singles
Maria Biryukova (WSU) def. Emmie Marx (UI) 6-2, 6-3
Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) def. Galina Bykova (UI) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Sophie Vickers (UI) 6-1, 6-2
Donika Bashota (WSU) def. Lucia Badillos (UI) 6-3, 6-2
Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Beatriz Flores (UI) 6-1, 6-1
Nastia Vasyukhina (WSU) def. Rita Bermudez (UI) 6-4, 6-3
Finish order: 3,1,4,5,2,6

--wsucougars.com--