MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Freshman Ege Tomey's three-set victory at No. 6 proved to be the clinching match as Washington State came-from-behind to defeat DePaul, 4-3, Saturday morning on day one of the Courtside Classic at the Baseline Tennis Club.
 
With the win the Cougars improve to 6-1 on the season while DePaul falls to 2-3.
 
After dropping the first set 6-4, Tomey rode a break of serve to a 6-4 second-set, forcing a third. WSU held a 3-2 team lead and with Tomey and Melisa Ates both in third sets, the match would hang on the racket of one of the Cougars' Turkish freshmen. Tomey made sure it was her as she capitalized on a break of serve to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, securing the team win for WSU. Tomey also improved to 6-0 in dual matches this season and 14-5 overall.
 
The day began with doubles action, where Barbora Michalkova and Guzal Yusupova jumped out early in doubles as after suffering a break of serve early, the duo stormed back to take five of the next six games for a 6-3 victory at No. 1 over Keisha Clousing and Aspasia Avgeri. DePaul evened the doubles at 1-1 when Ana Vladutu and Yuliya Shupenia posted a 6-3 win over Victoria Matejevic and Ates at No. 2. The doubles point came down to No. 3 where the Cougar pair of Aneta Miksovska and Lejla Colic trailed 1-5 before racing back to tie it at 5-5. The momentum ended there as DePaul's Florence Abbott and Patricia Lancranjan broke Miksovska's serve to win 7-5 and clinch the opening point.
 
In singles play DePaul quickly increased its lead to 2-0 as Lancranjan posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Matejevic at No. 3. The Cougars found the scoreboard when Michalkova completed a 6-4, 7-5 win over Shupenia at No. 1. It marked the junior's second-straight win at No. 1 and fourth win in her last five matches at both the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.
 
WSU tied the match at 2-2 when Yusupova finished off a 6-1, 7-5 win over Clousing at No. 2. The freshman from Karshi, Uzbekistan, improved to 6-1 in dual matches this season. Miksovska quickly followed to give WSU the lead at 3-2 as she defeated Avgeri, 6-1, 6-4 at No. 4, setting the stage for Tomey's match-clinching victory.
 
Ates finished her match by falling to Vladutu in three close sets, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5, at No. 6.
 
The Cougars will face the winner of the Dartmouth/Minnesota match in the Courtside Classic championship, Sunday at 10 a.m. PT.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 4 def. DePaul 3
February 4, 2017
Baseline Tennis Club
Minneapolis, Minn.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Barbora Michalkova/Guzal Yusupova (WSU) def. Keisha Clousing/Aspasia Avgeri (DU) 6-3
No. 2 Ana Vladutu/Yuliya Shupenia (DU) def. Victoria Matejevic and Melisa Ates (WSU) 6-3
No. 3 Florence Abbott/Patricia Lancranjan (DU) def. Aneta Miksovska/Lejla Colic (WSU) 7-5
Order of Finish: 1,2,3
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Barbora Michalkova (WSU) def. Yuliya Shupenia (DU) 6-4, 7-5
No. 2 Guzal Yusupova (WSU) def. Keisha Clousing (DU) 6-1, 7-5
No. 3 Patricia Lancranjan (DU) def. Victoria Matejevic (WSU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Aspasia Avgeri (DU) 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 Ana Vladutu (DU) def. Melisa Ates (WSU) 7-6, 6-7, 7-5
No. 6 Ege Tomey (WSU) def. Florence Abbott (DU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Order of Finish: 3,1,2,4,6,5