WACO, Texas – Sophomore Michaela Bayerlova rallied from a set down to capture a three-set victory and lift Washington State to a 4-3 win over Baylor Friday afternoon at the Hawkins Indoor Center.
 
With the match even at 3-3, the deciding point came down to No. 1 singles. After losing a tiebreaker in the first, Bayerlova cruised through the next two sets to seal the team victory with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win over Livia Kraus, the nation's 70th-ranked player.
 
"I'm happy for our team as this was a very good road win," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart. "Winning the doubles point is always huge and today we were able to grind through and get that important point. We had big wins throughout the lineup capped by Michaela's comeback victory to clinch the match. We will enjoy this one tonight then get ready for Purdue next week."
 
The day began with doubles play as the Cougars (7-1) captured the opening point by taking two of the doubles matches. At No. 3, Bayerlova and Aneta Miksovska had no trouble in posting a 6-0 victory over Katelyn Parker and Stephanie Adames at No. 3. Baylor bounced back with a 6-2 win at No. 2 when Jessica Hinojosa and Paula Baranano defeated WSU's Yang Lee and Melisa Ates, leaving the point to No. 1. There, WSU's Tiffany Mylonas and Hikaru Sato captured a break of serve in the final game to defeat Kristina Sorokolet and Kraus, 6-4.
 
Ates gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead as she cruised past Adames at No. 6, winning 6-0, 6-1. Baylor (5-5) bounced back with wins in three of the next four matches as Angelina Shakhraichuk defeated Savannah Ly-Nguyen at No. 4, 6-2, 6-4 to cut the lead in half. After Sato defeated Sorokolet 6-4, 6-0 at No. 2 to push WSU's lead to 3-1, Paula Baranano defeated Miksovska, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5 and Hinojosa defeated Mylonas 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to even the match, setting the stage for Bayerlova.
 
WSU is next in action Saturday, Feb. 16, when it travels to Purdue.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 4 def. Baylor 3
February 8, 2019
Hawkins Indoor Courts
Waco, Texas
 
DOUBLES

1. Hikaro Sato/Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) def. Kristina Sorokolet/Livia Kraus (BU) 6-4
2. Jessica Hinojosa/Paula Baranano (BU) def. Yang Lee/Melisa Ates (WSU), 6-2
3. Michaela Bayerlova/Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Katelyn Parker/Stephanie Adames (BU) 6-0

Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
SINGLES

1. #63 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. #70 Livia Kraus (BU) 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2
2. Hikaro Sato (WSU) def. Kristina Sorokolet (BU) 6-4, 6-0
3. Jessica Hinojosa (BU) def. #115 Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
4. Angelina Shakhraichuk (BU) def. Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Paula Baranano (BU) def. Aneta Miksovska (WSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Stephanie Adames (BU) 6-0, 6-1

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