PULLMAN, Wash. – Sophomore Victoria Matejevic posted a straight-set win at No. 5 singles but it was not enough as the fourth-ranked USC Trojans defeated Washington State 6-1 in a Pac-12 Conference tennis match Sunday morning at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
With the loss the Cougars fall to 11-6 on the season, 0-4 in conference play, while USC improves to 11-2, 1-0 in Pac-12 action.
Matejevic battled Gabriella DeSimone in a tight first set at No. 5 before coming up with a late break of serve for the 7-5 win. She wasted no time in getting the advantage early in the second and rode it to a 7-5, 6-3 win for WSU's lone victory. Matejevic has been one of the hottest players on the team as she has won seven of her last eight matches and has a team-best 3-1 record in Pac-12 play.
With USC leading 1-0 following doubles, the Cougars came out strong at the top of the singles lineup. At No. 1, Maria Biryukova was going back-and-forth with No. 39 Zoe Scandalis until a late break of service gave Scandalis the 6-4 first set. The Trojan senior rode an early break in the second to a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
At No. 2, Elizaveta Luzina fell behind Giuliana Olmos, the nation's 18th-ranked player, 2-0, before winning the next three games. The two traded service breaks until Olmos closed out the first set and rode the momentum to a 6-4, 6-0 win.
Lize Leenknecht held a late lead in the first set at 6-5 before Madison Westby, ranked No. 65 nationally, forced a tiebreaker in which she escaped with a 7-6 (7-5) win at No. 3. Westby then cruised in the second, closing out the match 7-6, 6-1, clinching the team victory for the Trojans.
At No. 4, No. 88 Gabby Smith won nine of the final 10 games as she defeated Donika Bashota, 6-3, 6-1 while Katz defeated Nastia Vasyukhina, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 6.
The day began with doubles where the Trojans won at No. 2 and No. 3 to take the opening point. At No. 3, the Trojan duo of Katz and DeSimone, ranked No. 27 nationally, posted an 8-3 win over Bashota and Holly Monahan followed closely by Smith and Westby's 8-3 win over Matejevic and Leenknecht at No. 2, sealing the doubles point. The match at No. 1 was stopped with WSU's Luzina and Biryukova trailing Scandalis and Olmos, ranked No. 18, 5-4.
The Cougars continue their home stand Friday when they host No. 50 Arizona at the WSU Outdoor Tennis Courts. Match time is set for 1:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 4 USC 6 def. Washington State 1
Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
March 15, 2015
DOUBLES
No. 1 Elizaveta Luzina/Maria Biryukova (WSU) vs. #18 Giuliana Olmos/Zoe Scandalis (USC) 4-5 DNF
No. 2 Gabby Smith/Madison Westby (USC) def. Victoria Matejevic/Lize Leenknecht (WSU) 8-3
No. 3 #27 Zoe Katz/Gabriella DeSimone (USC) def. Donika Bashota/Holly Monahan (WSU) 8-3
Order of Finish: 3,2
SINGLES
No. 1 #39 Zoe Scandalis (USC) def. Maria Biryukova (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 #18 Giuliana Olmos (USC) def. Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) 6-4, 6-0
No. 3 #65 Madison Westby (USC) def. Lize Leenknecht (WSU) 7-6 (5), 6-1
No. 4 #88 Gabby Smith (USC) def. Donika Bashota (WSU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Gabriella DeSimone (USC) 7-5, 6-3
No. 6 Zoe Katz (USC) def. Nastia Vasyukhina (WSU) 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1,2,3,4,6,5
