WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Washington State University captured its biggest win of the young season with a 4-0 sweep of Purdue Saturday at the Schwartz Tennis Center.
 
With the win, Washington State improves to 8-1 on the season while Purdue falls to 5-3. The Boilermakers had defeated No. 12 Mississippi earlier this season but again fall to the Cougars, who posted a 7-0 victory last season in Pullman.
 
"Today was a total team effort," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart. "We came out with great energy in doubles, great discipline, and carried that through the entire match. We will enjoy the win today and look forward to returning to Pullman and playing in front of our home fans Friday."

The day began with WSU capturing the opening doubles point by taking wins at No. 2 and 3 doubles. At No. 2, Melisa Ates and Yang Lee had no trouble with Seira Shimizu and Caitlin Calkins, winning 6-2, while Michael Bayerlova and Aneta Miksovska clinched the opening point with a 6-3 win over Ena Babic and Zala Dovnik at No. 3. The No. 1 match between WSU's Tiffany Mylonas and Hikaru Sato against Silvia Ambrosio and Amina Mukhametshina was stopped with Purdue leading 5-4.
 
In singles play, the Cougars jumped out fast by winning the first set in five of six matches. Freshman Savanna Ly-Nguyen made the first statement, cruising past Purdue's Alex Sabe, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 4 to give WSU a 2-0 lead. Bayerlova also cruised to victory in a match against two nationally-ranked players. The Cougar sophomore entered the week ranked No. 63 and posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over No. 9 Ambrosio at No. 1. The win marked the highest-ranked opponent Bayerlova has defeated while at WSU and the highest-ranked win by a Cougar since Elisabeth Fournier defeated No. 8 Hilary Barte of Stanford in 2010.
 
Holding a 3-0 lead, No. 115 Mylonas then clinched the victory by completing a 6-2, 6-1 win over Shimizu at No. 3. The remaining matches were stopped once the team victory was clinched. At No. 2, Sato was leading Babic, 6-3, 2-4, at No. 5 No. 115 Ates was leading Mukhametshina 7-5, 2-2, and at No. 6 Miksovska was trailing Calkins, 2-6, 2-2.
 
The Cougars are next in action Friday when they host a pair of matches at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse. The Cougars face BYU at Noon and then Seattle at 5 p.m.

MOMENTS FROM THE MATCH

Tiffany clinched the match 6-2,6-1 at 4 🐾🎾 Cougs beats the Boilermakers 4-0 #GCT #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/6v9AyLox1z

— WSU COUGAR TENNIS (@WSUCOUGARTENNIS) February 16, 2019

Savanna extended the lead to 2-0 Winning 6-1,6-1 at singles 4 #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/wH3Pj2SVTE

— WSU COUGAR TENNIS (@WSUCOUGARTENNIS) February 16, 2019

3-0 Cougs. Michaela win 6-2,6-1 at 1 #GCT pic.twitter.com/1oSRNMvSpt

— WSU COUGAR TENNIS (@WSUCOUGARTENNIS) February 16, 2019

 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 4 def. Purdue 0
February 16, 2019
Schwartz Tennis Center
West Lafayette, Ind.
 
DOUBLES

1. Tiffany Mylonas/Hikaru Sato (WSU) vs. Silvia Ambrosio/Amina Mukhametshina (PU)
2. Yang Lee/Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Seira Shimizu/Caitlin Calkins (PU)
3. Michaela Bayerlova/Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Ena Babic/Zala Dovnik (PU)

Order of Finish: 2,3
 
SINGLES

1. #63 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. #9 Silvia Ambrosio (PU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Hikaru Sato (WSU) vs. Ena Babic (PU) 6-3, 2-4 DNF
3. #115 Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) def. Seria Shimizu (PU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) def. Alex Sabe (PU) 6-1, 6-1
5. #115 Melisa Ates (WSU) vs. Amina Mukhametshina (PU) 7-5, 2-2 DNF
6. Aneta Miksovska (WSU) vs. Caitlin Calkins (PU) 2-6, 2-2 DNF

Order of Finish: 4,1,3