Cougars Fall to No. 39 USC, 4-1

Friday, March 31

Pullman, Wash.

1:30 PM

Washington State University

USC

March 31, 2017 | Tennis

WSU vs. USC Photo Gallery Highlights

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. – Freshman Guzal Yusupova provided the lone bright spot for the Cougars as No. 39 USC defeated Washington State, 4-1, in a Pac-12 women's tennis match Friday at the WSU Outdoor Tennis Courts.

With the loss the Cougars fall to 9-9 overall, 0-4 in Pac-12 play. USC improves to 6-7, 1-3 in Pac-12 play.

In doubles play the Trojans captured the top two matches to take the opening point. At No. 2, the nation's 34th-ranked team of Gabby Smith and Zoe Katz posted a 6-1 win over WUS's Barbora Michalkova and Melisa Ates. At No. 1, USC's pair of Jessica Failla and Rianna Valdez, ranked No. 33 nationally, secured the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Aneta Miksovska and Victoria Matejevic. At No. 3, WSU's Yusupova and Ege Tomey were locked in a 4-4 battle with USC's Madison Westby and Angela Kulikov, ranked 67th nationally, before the match was stopped.

The Trojans extended the lead in singles as Smith, ranked No. 20 nationally, recorded a 6-1, 6-1 win over Michalkova at No. 1. Yusupova cut into the Trojan lead as she had a convincing 6-1, 6-3 win over Valdez at No. 2. The Cougar freshman extended her unbeaten streak to eight matches, winning five while three were stopped before completion.

Westby then defeated Matejevic 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 to increase USC's lead to 3-1. The Trojans closed out the match at No. 6 where Sydney Van Alphen concluded a 6-3, 6-1 win over Lejla Colic for the final point.

Two other matches remained on court when play was stopped. At No. 3, Miksovska was trailing 5-7, 1-4 against Katz, ranked No. 96 nationally, and Ates was down 5-7, 2-5 against Kulikov at No. 5.

The Cougars are next in action Sunday when they host No. 20 UCLA at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse. Match time is set for 10 a.m.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 39 USC 4 def. Washington State 1
WSU Outdoor Tennis Courts
Pullman, Wash.

DOUBLES

No. 34 Jessica Failla/Rianna Valdez (USC) def. Aneta Miksovska/Victoria Matejevic (WSU) 6-2
No. 34 Gabby Smith/Zoe Katz (USC) def. Barbora Michalkova/Melisa Ates (WSU) 6-1
Guzal Yusupova/Ege Tomey (WSU) vs. No. 67 Madison Westby/Angela Kulikov (USC) 4-4 DNF