STANFORD, Calif. – Washington State Tennis had little trouble in its first-round match at the ITA Kickoff Weekend, defeating Denver 4-0 Saturday at the Taube Family Tennis Center.
 
With the win, the Cougars improve to 3-0 on the season while Denver falls to 2-1.
 
Starting with doubles, the Cougars captured victories at the top two spots to secure the opening point. Melisa Ates and Hikaru Sato posted a 6-4 win over Taylor Melville and Hada Chang at No. 1, while Michaela Bayerlova and Yang Lee clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 victory over Tatum Burger and Toni Nelson at No. 2. Pang Jittakoat and Jovana Knezevic were 5-5 against Denver's Camille Verden-Anderson and Alessia Truden when the match was stopped.
 
Jittakoat wasted no time pushing the WSU lead to 2-0 as she defeated Chang 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4. Ly-Nguyen pushed the Cougars to within one match of victory as she defeated Britt Pursell, ranked No. 114 in the nation, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3.
 
The Cougars clinched the win behind senior captain Ates, who needed a second-set tiebreaker to defeat Burger, 6-2, 7-6 (2) at No. 5, giving WSU the 4-0 victory.
 
The remaining three matches were stopped with Bayerlova leading Melville 7-6 (6), 2-1 at No. 1, Sato up a set 7-6 against Anna Riedmiller at No. 2, and Lee leading Verden-Anderson 7-5, 3-2 at No. 6.
 
WSU next faces No. 1 Stanford Sunday at 11 a.m. The winner of that match advances to the ITA National Indoor Championship, Feb. 7-10, at Chicago, Ill.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State vs. Denver
January 25, 2020
Taube Family Tennis Stadium
Stanford, Calif.
 
DOUBLES

1. Melisa Ates/Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Taylor Melville/Hada Chang (DU) 6-4
2. Michaela Bayerlova/Yang Lee (WSU) def. Tatum Burger/Toni Nelson (DU) 7-5
3. Pang Jittakoat/Jovana Knezevic (WSU) vs. Camille Verden-Anderson/Alessia Truden (DU) 5-5 DNF

Order of Finish: 1,2
 
SINGLES

1. Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) vs. Taylor Melville (DU) 7-6 (6), 2-1 DNF
2. Hikaru Sato (WSU) vs. Anna Riedmiller (DU) 7-6 (3) DNF
3. Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) def. #114 Britt Pursell (DU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Pang Jittakoat (WSU) def. Hada Chang (DU) 6-1, 6-0
5. #103 Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Tatum Burger (DU) 6-2, 7-6 (2)
6. Yang Lee (WSU) vs. Camille Verden-Anderson (DU) 7-5, 3-2 DNF

Order of Finish: 4,3,5