HOUSTON –The No. 57 Washington State tennis team received its first loss of the year as it fell 5-2 to No. 51 Houston, Friday at the John E. Hoff Tennis Courts.
During day two of the first road trip of the season, Washington State had trouble right out of the gate surrendering the doubles point. The No. 1 duo of Elizaveta Luzina and Lize Leenknecht couldn't find their form and faced their first doubles loss of the season, falling to Elena Kordolaimi and Despoina Vogasari, 6-2. Donika Bashota and Victoria Matejevic also ran into trouble, as the No. 2 doubles pair, were outdueled 6-4 by Maria Cardenas and Tina Rupert.
Partnered at No. 3, Maria Biryukova and Nastia Vasyukhina found themselves trailing 5-3 to Mina Markovic and Rocio Martin, before tying the match five apiece. The Cougar duo won their sixth game but play was suspended before conclusion of the match.
Problems continued to add up quickly for WSU, as Cardenas broke No. 6 Vasyukhina's seven-match unbeaten streak with a quick 6-0, 6-0 sweep to open singles play.
Down two points in the overall team match, freshman Bashota at No. 4 put WSU on the board and added to her unbeaten streak in back-and-forth duel with Markovic. After a 2-2 tie in the first set, Bashota found her form and took the next four games, capturing the first set 6-2. Markovic opened the second set hot but was shut down as Bashota rounded off a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
The biggest challenge WSU faced was Houston's nationally-ranked No. 1 and No. 2 student-athletes. Luzina at No. 1, was cut down by No. 21 Vogasari for the second straight season in a hard fought, 7-5, 6-3 battle, while No. 2 Biryukova took No. 52 Kordolaimi to three sets but dropped 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 to secure Houston the overall win.
Washington State finished the day splitting the last two matches as No. 3 Leenknecht moved to 7-0 on the season after outdueling Rocio Martin, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, while No. 5 Matejevic couldn't keep up with Rupert, falling 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Washington State concludes its Houston road trip Saturday, Feb. 7, at 9 a.m. PST against the No. 28 Auburn Tigers.
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 51 Houston 5 def. No. 57 Washington State 2
John E. Hoff Tennis Courts | Houston, Texas
February 6, 2015
DOUBLES:
1. Elena Kordolaimi/Despoina Vogasari (UH) def. Lize Leenknecht/Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) 6-2
2. Tina Rupert/Maria Cardenas (UH) def. Donika Bashota/Victoria Matejevic (WSU) 6-4
3. Rocio Martin/Mina Markovic (UH) vs. Maria Biryukova/Nastia Vasyukhina (WSU) 5-6, unfinished
SINGLES:
1. No. 21 Despoina Vogasari (UH) def. Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) 7-5, 6-3
2. No. 52 Elena Kordolaimi (UH) def. Maria Biryukova (WSU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
3. Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Rocio Martin (UH) 6-2, 5-7, 7-5
4. Donika Bashota (WSU) def. Mina Markovic (UH) 6-2, 6-4
5. Tina Rupert (UH) def. Victoria Matejevic (WSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. Maria Cardenas (UH) def. Nastia Vasyukhina (WSU) 6-0, 6-0
--wsucougars.com--
