PULLMAN, Wash. – Freshman Melisa Ates pulled out a three-set victory to clinch a 4-3 winfor Washington State over Fresno State Saturday at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
Ates, one of three freshmen to pull out singles victories on the afternoon, broke serve in the final game to pull out a 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3 win over Ndindi Ndunda to give the Cougars the victory. It was Ates' team-leading 19th singles win of the season and pushed the Cougars' record to 8-3. Fresno State falls to 2-4 after the match.
 
Freshmen Ates, Lejla Colic and Guzal Yusupova all recorded singles wins after WSU captured the opening double point in the win. The three freshmen have a combined 57-23 singles record this season.
 
In doubles play WSU's No. 3 team of Yusupova and Ates rode an early break of serve to a 6-2 win over Fresno State's Galina Bykova and Ndindi Ndunda to give WSU an early advantage. Minutes later, Aneta Miksovska and Colic clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Katerina Stloukalova and Juliane Triebe at No. 2. The No. 1 match between WSU's Barbora Michalkova/Victoria Matejevic and FSU's Georgia Lawson/Emma Wilson was stopped at 5-5 once the doubles point was clinched.
 
In singles action the Bulldogs quickly tied the match as Stloukalova posted a 6-3, 6-0 win over Michalkova at No. 1. Yusupova regained the lead for WSU with a convincing, 6-4, 6-1 win over Bykova at No. 2.
 
The match was tied against at 2-2 as Triebe won two hard-fought sets, 6-3, 6-3, over Matejevic at No. 4 just before Wilson pulled out a 6-0, 6-3 win over Miksovska at No. 3.
 
With WSU trailing 3-2, it came down to freshmen at both five and six singles. At No. 6, Colic earned a solid, 6-3, 6-3 win, setting the stage for Ates.
 
The Cougars conclude the weekend Sunday when they host Idaho at 2 p.m. at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 4 def. Fresno State 3
February 25, 2017
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Barbora Michalkova/Victoria Matejevic (WSU) vs. Georgia Lawson/Emma Wilson (FSU) 5-5 DNF
No. 2 Aneta Miksovska/Lejla Colic (WSU) def. Katerina Stloukalova/Juliane Triebe (FSU) 6-2
No. 3 Guzal Yusupova/Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Galina Bykova/Ndindi Ndunda (FSU) 6-2
Order of Finish: 3,2
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Katerina Stloukalova (FSU) def. Barbora Michalkova (WSU) 6-3, 6-0
No. 2 Guzal Yusupova (WSU) def. Galina Bykova (FSU) 6-4, 6-1
No. 3 Emma Wilson (FSU) def. Aneta Miksovska (WSU) 6-0, 6-3
No. 4 Juliane Triebe (FSU) def. Victoria Matejevic (WSU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Ndindi Ndunda (FSU) 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3
No. 6 Lejla Colic (WSU) def. Georgia Lawson (FSU) 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1,2,4,3,6,5