Bashota Sets Record, No. 55 Cougars Defeat BYU

Friday, March 25

Pullman, WA

12:00 PM

Washington State University

Brigham Young

Photo by: Washington State Athletics

March 25, 2016 | Tennis

By: Washington State Athletics

PULLMAN, Wash. – Sophomore Donika Bashota broke the single-season singles victories record propelling the No. 55-ranked Washington State tennis team to a 6-1 victory over BYU (4-10), Friday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.

In singles play, No. 1 Bashota led the way for the Cougars (17-4) and never lost a beat. Bashota posted a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Jones. With the win, Bashota cemented her place in the Washington State tennis record books. With a total of 34 victories, Bashota moves past Elisabeth Fournier (2012) on the single-season singles wins list. She recently surpassed her 31 wins from last season, which was a WSU freshman record.

No. 2 Biryukova and No. 4 Huynh followed closely behind with wins of their own. No. 2 Biryukova posted a three-set 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 victory over Miclat, while No. 4 Huynh clinched the match with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 effort over Nabieva, giving WSU an insurmountable 4-0 lead.

BYU got on the board when No. 3 Michalkova fell to Poulsen in three-sets, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. At No. 6, Leenknecht handled Beckman posting a 7-5, 6-2 victory, while No. 5 Miksovska bested Ware in a hard-fought 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 1-0 (4) win closing out the match.

The day began with doubles play as the Cougars came away with two 6-3 victories to clinch the opening point. At No. 2, the WSU duo of Lize Leenknecht and Trang Huynh defeated Nicolette Poulsen and Savanna Ware, 6-3. At No. 3, Maria Biryukova and Aneta Miksovska out-rallied Natella Nabieva and Taylah Beckman coming away with the 6-3 victory, earning WSU the early lead. At No. 1 Donika Bashota and Victoria Matejevic were leading Mayci Jones and Toby Miclat 4-3 when the match was stopped.

Washington State tennis opens a two-match road swing with the Arizona schools beginning Friday, April 1, against No. 71 Arizona at 1:30 p.m. The Cougars are then slated to face No. 19 Arizona State Saturday, April 2, at noon.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 55 Washington State 6 def. BYU 1
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
March 25, 2016

DOUBLES
No. 1 Bashota/Matejevic (WSU) vs. Jones/Miclat (BYU) 4-3, DNF
No. 2 Leenknecht/Huynh (WSU) def. Ware/Poulsen (BYU) 6-3
No.3 Biryukova/Miksovska (WSU) def. Nabieva/Beckman (BYU) 6-3
Order of Finish: 2,3

SINGLES
No. 1 Donika Bashota (WSU) def. Mayci Jones (BYU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Maria Biryukova (WSU) def. Toby Miclat (BYU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
No. 3 Nicolette Poulsen (BYU) def. Barbora Michalkova (WSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 Trang Huynh (WSU) def. Natella Nabieva (BYU) 7-6 (4), 6-1
No. 5 Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Savannah Ware (BYU) 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 1-0 (4)
No. 6 Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Taylah Beckman (BYU) 7-5, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1,2,4,3,6,5