STANFORD, Calif. – Freshman Yang Lee rallied from a set down to complete an improbable comeback for Washington State as it rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat SMU, 4-3, Saturday in the first round of the ITA Kickoff Classic at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
 
The Cougars (6-0) fell behind 3-0 before rallying to capture the final four singles matches and complete the victory. Lee, playing at No. 5, split the first two sets with SMU's Karina Traxler, dropping the first in a tiebreaker before winning the second 6-2. In the third, Lee jumped out to an early break of serve and never gave it back as she clinched the win with a 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4 victory. It marked the first time WSU had come back to win after trailing 3-0 since defeating Oregon, 4-3, March 13, 2004 in Eugene in Coach Lisa Hart's first season.
 
"This was a total team win today," said Hart. "Our seniors showed absolute determination and grit to get the wins on their courts and I was so impressed with our freshman Yang. She had so much fight and poise with the match on her shoulders. We are excited about having the opportunity to play the No. 1 team in the country tomorrow! Go Cougs!"
 
Trailing 3-0, the Cougars found their first win at No. 1 singles when Michaela Bayerlova, ranked No. 83 nationally, cruised past Liza Buss, winning 6-2, 6-3. Tiffany Mylonas cut the deficit to 3-2 as she needed three sets to defeat Anzhelika Shapovalova, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
 
Senior Aneta Miksovska evened the match for WSU with a three-set victory at No. 6, defeating Nicole Petchey 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, setting the stage for Lee's heroics. For the match, the Cougars were 3-0 in three-set matches.
 
Singles play started with SMU quickly pushing WSU to the brink as Vivienne Kulicke cruised past Hikaru Sato at No. 2, 6-2, 6-2 followed by a 6-2, 6-4, win from Ana Perez-Lopez at No. 4 over Savanna Ly-Nguyen.
 
SMU captured the opening doubles point by winning at No. 2 and 3 doubles. The Mustang pair of Traxler and Tiffany Hoellebeck started it off with a 6-1 win over Bayerlova and Miksovska at No. 3. WSU's duo of Sato and Mylonas evened it at a win apiece with a 6-4 win over Buss and Shapovalova at No. 1. At No. 2, WSU's Lee and Melisa Ates held a 5-3 lead but could not close it out, falling 7-6 (7-2) to Kulicke and Perez-Lopez.
 
The Cougars will face No. 1 Stanford in Sunday's match, starting at 2 p.m.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 4 def. SMU 3
January 26, 2019
Stanford, Calif.
 
DOUBLES

1. Hikaro Sato/Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) def. Liza Buss/Anzhelika Shapovalova (SMU) 6-4
2. Vivienne Kulicke/Ana Perez-Lopez (SMU) def. Yang Lee/Melisa Ates (WSU) 7-6 (2)
3. Karina Traxler/Tiffany Hoellenbeck (SMU) def. Michaela Bayerlova/Aneta Miksovska (WSU) 6-1

Order of Finish: 3,1,2
 
SINGLES

1. #83 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. Liza Buss (SMU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Vivienne Kulicke (SMU) def. Hikaru Sato (WSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) def. Anzhelika Shapovalova (SMU) 6-1, 1-6, 6-4
4. Ana Perez-Lopez (SMU)  def. Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Yang Lee (WSU)  def. Karina Traxler (SMU)  6-7, 6-2, 6-4
6. Aneta Miksovska (WSU) vs. Nicole Petchey (SMU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-1

Order of Finish: 2,4,1,3,6,5