BERKELEY, Calif. – Washington State Tennis' late charge came up one match short as the No. 36 Cougars fell to No. 19 California, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at the Hellman Tennis Complex.
 
With the loss the Cougars fall to 17-7 on the season, 2-5 in Pac-12 play. The Golden Bears improve to 10-6 overall, 4-3 in conference action.
 
After Cal captured the opening doubles point by winning at No. 2 and 3 doubles, the Cougars needed four singles wins to capture the match. At No. 6, WSU junior Melisa Ates tied the match a 1-1 as she had little trouble in defeating Alexis Nelson 6-3, 6-1. Cal's Olivia Hauger, ranked 42nd nationally, regained the lead for the Golden Bears with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Hikaru Sato at No. 2.
 
In a matchup of top 60 players, No. 57 Michaela Bayerlova of Washington State captured a second-set tiebreaker to defeat No. 40 Julia Rosenqvist, 6-3 7-6 (4), to ended the match at 2-2. Cal again took the lead as Anna Bright, ranked 111, also needed a second-set tiebreaker to defeat Tiffany Mylonas, 6-3, 7-6 (2) at No. 3.
 
With WSU needing to win the final two matches, it came down to No. 4 and 5. At No. 4, WSU's Yang Lee held early leads in the first set before Cal's Maria Smith pulled out a 7-6 first set. In the second, Smith captured a break midway through the set and held on for a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win, clinching the team victory for Cal. At No. 5, WSU's Aneta Miksovska needed three sets to defeat Hana Mraz, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
 
The Cougars return to Pullman to host No. 8 UCLA at the WSU Outdoor Tennis Courts. Match time is set for 1:30 p.m.
 
No. 19 California 4 def. No. 36 Washington State 3
April 6, 2019
Hellman Tennis Complex
Berkeley, Calif.
 
DOUBLES
1. No. 13 Hana Mraz/Julia Rosenqvist (Cal) vs. No. 75 Hikaru Sato/Tiffany Mylonas (WSU), 5-4 DNF
2. No. 28 Anna Bright/Jasie Dunk (Cal) def. Yang Lee/Melissa Ates (WSU), 6-2
3. Olivia Hauger/Katerina Stloukalova (Cal) def. Michaela Bayerlova/Aneta Miksovska (WSU), 6-3*
Order of Finish – 2, 3
 
SINGLES
1. No. 57 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. No. 40 Julia Rosenqvist (Cal), 6-3, 7-6(4)
2. No. 42 Olivia Hauger (Cal) def. Hikaru Sato (WSU), 6-0, 6-3
3. No. 111 Anna Bright (Cal) def. Tiffany Mylonas (WSU), 6-3, 7-6(2)
4. Maria Smith (Cal) def. Yang Lee (WSU), 7-6(4), 6-4^
5. Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Hana Mraz (Cal), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
6. Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Alexis Nelson (Cal), 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish – 6, 2, 1, 3, 4, 5