PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State captured four singles matches en route to a 5-2 victory over Idaho Sunday at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
With the win the Cougars improve to 9-3 on the season and defeat Idaho for the 20th-straight time. Idaho falls to 5-4.
 
With the match tied at 2-2, three of WSU's freshmen remained playing to decide the outcome for the second-straight day. And much like Saturday's win over Fresno State, the freshmen again came through with victories.
 
Melisa Ates gave WSU a 3-2 advantage as she had little trouble with Ana Batiri at No. 5, defeating her opponent 6-0, 6-2. The win gave the Cougar freshman her 20th singles victory of the season. Guzal Yusupova then clinched the team victory as on her seventh match point, she closed out a 6-1, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (0) win over Idaho's Lucia Badillos at No. 2. Yusupova had two match points in the second-set then multiple chances in the third before winning all seven points in the third-set tiebreaker for her 13th win of the season.
 
The third freshman, Lejla Colic, closed out the match with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Shion Watabe at No. 6 for the final margin of victory.
 
The Cougars captured the opening doubles point by taking the first two completed matches. At No. 3 Yusupova and Ates cruised to a 6-3 win over Jessica Brzozowska and Watabe, followed by Barbora Michalkova and Victoria Matejevic's 7-5 win at No. 1 over Marianna Petrei and Badillos. The No. 2 doubles match between WSU's Aneta Miksovska and Colic and Idaho's Maria Tavares and Batiri was stopped at 4-4. It marked the ninth time in 12 matches this season the Cougars have captured the opening doubles point.
 
In singles action the Vandals captured two of the first three matches off to tie the contest at 2-2. Petrei was first off following a 6-3, 6-1 win over Michalkova while Miksovska had little trouble with Brzozowska, winning 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3. Tavares evened the score with a come-from-behind, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Matejevic at No. 3.
 
The Cougars return to the courts Sunday, March 12 when they open Pac-12 Conference play against Oregon. Match time is set for 11 a.m.
 
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 5 def. Idaho 2
February 26, 2017
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Barbora Michalkova/Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Marianna Petrei/Lucia Badillos (UI) 7-5
No. 2 Aneta Miksovska/Lejla Colic (WSU) vs. Maria Tavares/Ana Batiri (UI) 4-4 DNF
No. 3 Guzal Yusupova/Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Shion Watabe/Jessica Brzozowska (UI) 6-3
Order of Finish: 3,1
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Marianna Petrei (UI) def. Barbora Michalkova (WSU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 Guzal Yusupova (WSU) def. Lucia Badillos (UI) 6-1, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (0)
No. 3 Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Jessica Brzozowska (UI) 6-1, 6-3
No. 4 Maria Tavares (UI) def. Victoria Matejevic (WSU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Ana Batiri (UI) 6-0, 6-2
No. 6 Lejla Colic (WSU) def. Shion Watabe (UI) 6-1, 7-5
Order of Finish: 1,3,4,5,2,6