PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State tennis withstood an early-season challenge to earn a hard-fought, 5-2, victory over Montana State Saturday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse. With the win the Cougars improve to 4-0 this season after defeating Montana earlier in the day.
 
Play began with doubles and the Cougar duo of Victoria Matejevic and Melisa Ates rode an early break of serve to a 6-3 win over Chloe Goyette and Jessica Brycki at No. 2. The doubles point was clinched at No. 3 when Lejla Colic and Ege Tomey jumped out to a 5-2 lead then held on for a 6-4 win over Angelina Philippova and Wanda Holopainen. The No. 1 doubles match was halted with Montana State's Laura Middel and Naomi Holopainen leading Guzal Yusupova and Barbora Michalkova, 5-4.
 
Montana State tied the match at 1-1 when Goyette jumped out quick and never looked back in a 6-2, 6-1 win over Michalkova at No. 2 singles. Yusupova gave the Cougars a brief lead at 2-1 when she won a tight first set then pulled away from Middle, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1.
 
The Bobcats quickly tied the match at 2-2 as Philippova won a hard-fought, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Colic at No. 4 singles. WSU took the lead for good when Matejevic pulled away from Naomi Holopainen for a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 3.
 
At No. 5 Ates clinched the match as she rallied from down 1-5 in the second set against Brycki to pull out the 6-0, 7-6 (3) victory. It was her team-leading 15th single victory of the season and gave WSU its 12th-straight win in the series. Tomey pushed the final score to 5-2 with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Wanda Holopainen at No. 6.
 
The Cougars are next in action Friday when they visit Purdue. Match time is set for 10 a.m. PT.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 5 def. Montana State 2
January 21, 2017
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Guzal Yusupova/Barbara Michalkova (WSU) vs. Laura Middel/Naomi Holopainen (MSU) 4-5 DNF
No. 2 Victoria Matejevic/Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Chloe Goyette/Jessica Brycki (MSU) 6-3
No. 3 Lejla Colic/Ege Tomey (WSU) def. Angelina Philippova/Wanda Holopainen (MSU) 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 3
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Guzal Yusupova (WSU) def. Laura Middle (MSU) 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 Chloe Goyette (MSU) def. Barbora Michalkova (WSU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Naomi Holopainen (MSU) 7-5, 6-2
No. 4 Angelina Philippova (MSU) def. Lejla Colic (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 5 Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Jessica Brycki (MSU) 6-0, 7-6 (3)
No. 6 Ege Tomey (WSU) def. Wanda Holopainen (MSU) 6-3, 6-0-
Order of Finish: 2,1,4,3,5,6