PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State University freshman tennis player Michaela Bayerlova has been selected to the 2018 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship singles field, the NCAA announced Wednesday.
Bayerlova, from Krumbach, Germany, has put together an impressive freshman campaign, posting a 27-5 singles record and currently boasts a No. 26 national ranking.
"I am so happy that Michaela is being recognized for the tremendous season she is having," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart. "Only a freshman, she has proven herself to be not only one of the top players in the Pac-12 Conference, but also in the nation. I'm excited to see how she competes later this month."
This season, Bayerlova is having arguably the best season by a Cougar player in program history. Her current No. 26 ranking is the highest by any player in program history during the spring season. She began her collegiate career with 20-straight singles victories, the second-longest streak in school history, and is 7-4 against nationally-ranked players in 2018. That includes wins over No. 15 Michaela Gordon of Stanford, No. 38 Julia Rosenqvist of Cal, No. 39 Marianna Petrei of Idaho and No. 42 Lauryn John-Baptiste of Arizona State. Twice this spring she has earned Pac-12 Tennis Player of the Week honors while also clinching team victories on three different occasions.
Last fall, Bayerlova won the ITF Charleston event, her second professional tournament title, and currently holds a world ranking of 640.
The last Cougars to be selected for the NCAA singles championship were Elisabeth Fournier and Liudmila Vasilieva, both of whom participated in 2010.
The 2018 NCAA Women's Tennis championship singles and doubles competitions will be held May 23-28 at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex in Winston-Salem, N.C., following the conclusion of the team championship (May 17-22).
Bayerlova, from Krumbach, Germany, has put together an impressive freshman campaign, posting a 27-5 singles record and currently boasts a No. 26 national ranking.
"I am so happy that Michaela is being recognized for the tremendous season she is having," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart. "Only a freshman, she has proven herself to be not only one of the top players in the Pac-12 Conference, but also in the nation. I'm excited to see how she competes later this month."
This season, Bayerlova is having arguably the best season by a Cougar player in program history. Her current No. 26 ranking is the highest by any player in program history during the spring season. She began her collegiate career with 20-straight singles victories, the second-longest streak in school history, and is 7-4 against nationally-ranked players in 2018. That includes wins over No. 15 Michaela Gordon of Stanford, No. 38 Julia Rosenqvist of Cal, No. 39 Marianna Petrei of Idaho and No. 42 Lauryn John-Baptiste of Arizona State. Twice this spring she has earned Pac-12 Tennis Player of the Week honors while also clinching team victories on three different occasions.
Last fall, Bayerlova won the ITF Charleston event, her second professional tournament title, and currently holds a world ranking of 640.
The last Cougars to be selected for the NCAA singles championship were Elisabeth Fournier and Liudmila Vasilieva, both of whom participated in 2010.
The 2018 NCAA Women's Tennis championship singles and doubles competitions will be held May 23-28 at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex in Winston-Salem, N.C., following the conclusion of the team championship (May 17-22).