PULLMAN, Wash. – Donika Bashota won two singles matches as Washington State posted a 6-1 victory over Gonzaga and a 5-2 win over North Dakota Saturday at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
With the two wins Washington State moves to 9-2 on the season.
The Cougars opened the doubleheader quickly taking the doubles point against GU. Lize Leenknecht and Elizaveta Luzina at No. 1 quickly gave WSU the advantage, posting an easy 6-2 effort over Katie Edwards and Samantha Polayes. At No. 2, Victoria Matejevic and Maria Biryukova ran into trouble early to Melanie Yates and Alex Bourguignon, but rallied taking the next four games, tying the match at four. The Cougars had the chance to close the match three separate times but couldn't capitalize, forcing a tiebreaker. Yates and Bourguignon took advantage of two more missed match point opportunities by WSU and bested Matejevic and Biryukova, capping a 7-6 (9-7) victory. No. 3 Nastia Vasyukhina and Bashota secured the doubles point for WSU, outdueling Franziska Koelher and Kylie Peek 7-6 (7-5).
In singles play, No. 2 Biryukova quickly gave Washington State a 2-0 advantage, rolling over Peek, 6-2, 6-2. At No. 3, Leenknecht continued the winning trend, extending the Cougars lead to three, with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 effort over Polayes.
Freshman Bashota clinched the overall match for Washington State, outdueling Bourguignon, 6-3, 7-6 (5). No. 1 Luzina and No. 5 Matejevic kept the Cougar sweep alive, with Luzina recording a 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 (5) effort over Edwards, while Matejevic defeated Yates, 6-2, 7-5, 1-0 (5).
The Bulldogs ended the Cougars chance for a sweep as Vasyukhina at No. 6 struggled against Koehler, falling 6-1, 6-2.
The Cougars improve to 18-0 all-time against the Bulldogs, who fall to 6-1 on the season.
Washington State continued their dominance on the day, winning the doubles point against North Dakota (3-7). The No. 2 pair of Leenknecht and Holly Monahan promptly defeated Mimi Yunker posting a 6-1 win, while the No. 3 duo of Vasyukhina and Bashota clinched the point with a 6-1 victory over Sophie Allen-Fisher and Kathleen Preston. At No. 1, Luzina and Matejevic had a 4-2 advantage before play was suspended.
In singles action, Matejevic at No.4 made it 2-0 as she had little trouble with Lee, winning 6-3, 6-0. Luzina finished close behind, as she posted an easy 6-2, 6-2 win over Ronkowski at No. 1, giving WSU a 3-0 lead.
Freshman Bashota clinched the match for the second time on the day, defeating Yunker 6-3, 6-0.
UND picked up two victories late as Leenknecht at No. 2 struggled against Sprinkel, falling 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, while Monahan was bested 6-1, 1-6, 1-0 (8).
Freshman Vasyukhina ended the day rounding off a 5-2 victory for the Cougars, outdueling Preston 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Washington State tennis is next in action Friday, Mar. 5, against Portland in Seattle.
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 6 def. Gonzaga 1
Hollingbery Fieldhouse | Pullman, Wash.
February 28, 2015
Doubles:
No. 1 Leenknecht/Luzina (WSU) def. Edwards/Polayes (GU) 6-2
No. 2 Yates/Bourguignon (GU) def. Matejevic/Biryukova (WSU) 7-6 (9-7)
No. 3 Vasyukhina/Bashota (WSU) def. Peek/Koehler (GU) 7-6 (7-5)
Finish order: 1, 2, 3
Singles:
No. 1 Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) def. Katie Edwards (GU) 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 (5)
No. 2 Maria Biryukova (WSU) def. Kylie Peek (GU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Samantha Polayes (GU) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
No. 4 Donika Bashota (WSU) def. Alex Bourguignon (GU) 6-3, 7-6(5)
No. 5 Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Melanie Yates(GU) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (5)
No. 6 Franziska Koehler (GU) def. Nastia Vasyukhina (WSU) 6-1, 6-2
Finish order: 2, 3, 4, 1, 5, 6
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 5 def. North Dakota 2
Hollingbery Fieldhouse | Pullman, Wash.
February 28, 2015
Doubles:
No. 1 Luzina/Matejevic (WSU) def. Ronkowski and Sprinkel (UND) 4-2, DNF
No. 2 Leenknecht/Monahan (WSU) def. Yunker/Lee (UND) 6-1
No. 3 Vasyukhina/Bashota (WSU) def. Allen-Fisher/Preston (UND) 6-1
Finish order: 2, 3
Singles:
No. 1 Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) def. Callie Ronkowski (UND) 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 Lacey Sprinkel (UND) def. Lize Leenknecht (WSU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 3 Donika Bashota (WSU) def. Mimi Yunker (UND) 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Faith Lee (UND) 6-3, 6-0
No. 5 Sophie Allen-Fisher (UND) def. Holly Monahan (WSU) 6-1, 1-6, 1-0 (8)
No. 6 Nastia Vasyukhina (WSU) def. Kathleen Preston (UND) 6-1, 7-6 (4)
Finish order: 4, 1, 3, 2, 5, 6
--wsucougars.com--
