SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington State's late comeback fell short as the Cougars fell to No. 47 Gonzaga, 5-2, Sunday afternoon at the Stevens Tennis Center.
 
With the loss the Cougars, ranked No. 15 nationally, fall to 10-2 on the season. Gonzaga improves to 5-2.
 
"I was impressed with how Gonzaga competed today," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart. "They played a great match and deserved to win today. We will regroup and get ready for another opportunity Thursday against Kansas State."
 
In doubles action to begin the day, Gonzaga jumped out quick with leads 5-0 and 4-0 and both three and two, respectively. At No. 3, Gonzaga's Kate Ketels and Haruna Tsuruta closed out the win over Michaela Bayerlova and Aneta Miksovska, 6-2 for the early advantage. It was quite the opposite at No. 2, where WSU's Melisa Ates and Yang Lee rallied from 0-6 down to take the next six games for the 6-4 win over Sara Komer and Vlada Medvedcova, leaving the doubles point to No. 1. In a back-and-forth set, Gonzaga's Sophie Whittle and Graciela Rosas got a late break of serve then closed out the set 6-4 over WUS's Tiffany Mylonas and Hikaru Sato, give the Bulldogs the doubles point.
 
When singles began, the Bulldogs pushed the lead to 3-0 as Rosas at No. 2 defeated Sato, 6-1, 6-3, and Whittle, ranked No. 4 nationally, defeated No. 36 Bayerlova 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1.
 
On the brink of defeat, the Cougars started a comeback when Ates, ranked No. 106, posted a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Medvedcova at No. 5. WSU freshman Savanna Ly-Nguyen added to the Cougar total with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 4 over Tsuruta.
 
Trailing 3-2 with two matches remaining, Miksovska was battling at No. 6 against Ketels, dropping the first set 6-2 but after saving three-straight match points, forced a second-set tiebreaker. After going back and forth, and saving three more match points, Ketels survived to take the tiebreaker 12-10, clinching the match for Gonzaga. In the final match at No. 3, Mylonas captured the first set in a tiebreaker before Domonique Garley rallied for the 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 win.
 
The Cougars are next in action Thursday when they travel to Manhattan, Kan. To face Kansas State.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 47 Gonzaga 5 def. No. 15 Washington State 2
February 24, 2019
Stevens Tennis Center
Spokane, Wash.
 
DOUBLES

1. Sophie Whittle/Graciela Rosas (GU) def. Tiffany Mylonas/Hikaru Sato (WSU) 6-4
2. Melisa Ates/Yang Lee (WSU) def. Sara Komer/Vlada Medvedcova (GU) 6-4
3. Kate Ketels/Haruna Tsuruta (GU) def. Michaela Bayerlova/Aneta Miksovska (WSU) 6-2

Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
SINGLES

1. #4 Sophie Whittle (GU) def. #36 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) 6-0, 6-3
2. Graciela Rosas (GU) def. Hikaru Sato (WSU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Domonique Garley (GU) def. Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
4. Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) def. Haruna Tsuruta (GU) 6-4, 6-3
5. #106 Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Vlada Medvedcova (GU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Kate Ketels (GU) def. Aneta Miksovska (WSU) 6-2, 7-6 (12-10)

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