PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State tennis team opened its 2016 dual season in convincing fashion with a 7-0 victory against Montana State, Friday at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.

The win was the 200th in the career of head coach Lisa Hart, who picked up her 155th while leading WSU to go with 45 while head coach at Virginia Tech.

The day began with doubles play as the Cougars quickly captured the opening point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. At No. 1, Aneta Miksovska and Barbora Michalkova posted a 6-1 win over Molly Crum and Linda Vink, while Donika Bashota and Lize Leenknecht clinched the point with a 6-3 win over Jessica Brycki and Angelina Philippova. At No. 2, the Cougar duo of Maria Biryukova and Trang Huynh trailed 5-4 to Laura Middel and Naomi Holopainen when the match was stopped.

In singles action, Bashota quickly made it 2-0 as she had little trouble with Middel, winning 6-0, 6-1. At No. 3. Biryukova followed close behind as she posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Brycki, giving WSU a 3-0 lead.

Huynh clinched the match for the Cougars as she defeated Holopainen 6-1, 6-2. At No. 5 Leenknecht defeated Crum in straight sets 6-0, 6-2.

Michalkova won a close match 6-1, 7-6 (1) over Philoppova at No. 4. Matejevic closed out the match at No. 6 with a 6-1, 7-6 (2) victory over Shelby Cerkovnik, completing the Cougar sweep.

The 7-0 victory against Montana State marks the 11th-straight year the Cougars began the season with a victory and third-straight year with an opening day sweep.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS 
Washington State 7 def. Montana State 0
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
January 15, 2016
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Bashota/Leenknecht (WSU) def. Brycki/Philippova (MSU) 6-3
No. 2 Biryukova/Huynh (WSU) vs. Middel/Holopainen (MSU) 4-5, DNF
No. 3 Miksovska/Michalkova (WSU) def. Crum/Vink (MSU) 6-1
Order of Finish: 3,1

SINGLES
No. 1 No. 83 Donika Bashota (WSU) def. Laura Middel (MSU) 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 Trang Huynh (WSU) def. Naomi Holopainen(MSU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 Maria Biryukova(WSU) def. Jessica Brycki (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 Barbora Michalkova (WSU) def. Angelina Philippova (MSU) 6-1, 7-6 (1)
No. 5 Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Molly Crum (MSU) 6-0, 6-2
No. 6 Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Shelby Cerkovnik (MSU) 6-1, 7-6 (2)
Order of Finish: 1,3,2,4,5,6