PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State Tennis opened its 2020 Pac-12 Conference season with a 6-1 victory over Colorado Friday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
With the win, the Cougars, ranked No. 39 nationally, improve to 10-3 overall, 1-0 in conference play. Colorado falls to 8-5, 0-1.
 
The Cougars opened play by taking the first two doubles matches for the opening point. Michaela Bayerlova and Hikaru Sato defeated the nation's 64th-ranked duo of Monica Malinen and Sara Nayar, 6-2, at No. 1. The doubles point was clinched when Melisa Ates and Yang Lee completed a 6-3 victory at No. 2 over Ky Ecton and Sophia Derivan. The No. 3 match of WSU's Pang Jittakoat and Jovana Knezevic were tied at 4-4 with Megan Forster and Antonio Balzert when play was stopped.
 
In singles action, WSU's Savanna Ly-Nguyen quickly made it a 2-0 lead as she defeated Antonio Blazert 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3. Bayerlova, ranked No. 46, extended her winning streak to 12 matches with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Malinen at No. 1, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
 
Sato clinched the team victory for the Cougars with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Nayar at No. 2, improving to 8-3 in dual matches. Jittakoat saw her dual-match record improve to 9-0 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Forster at No. 5. The final Cougar point was earned by Lee, who rallied from 2-5 down in the second set to defeat Maria Campos, 6-4, 7-5.
 
Colorado's victory came at No. 4 when Derivan needed three sets to defeat Ates, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.
 
The Cougars are next in action Sunday as they host Utah at Hollingbery Fieldhouse. Match time is set for 10 a.m.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
#39 Washington State 6, Colorado 1
March 6, 2020
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES

1. Michaela Bayerlova/Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. #64 Monica Malinen/Sara Nayar (COLO) 6-2
2. Melisa Ates/Yang Lee (WSU) def. Ky Ecton/Sophia Derivan (COLO)  6-3
3. Pang Jittakoat/Jovana Knezevic (WSU) vs. Megan Forster/Antonia Balzert (COLO) 4-4 DNF

Order of Finish: 1,2
 
SINGLES

1. #46 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. Monica Malinen (COLO) 6-4, 6-4
2. Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Sara Nayar (COLO) 7-5, 6-4
3. Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) def. Antonio Balzert (COLO) 6-4, 6-1
4. Sophia Derivan (COLO) def. Melisa Ates (WSU) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
5. Pang Jittakoat (WSU) def. Megan Forster (COLO) 6-3, 6-2
6. Yang Lee (WSU) def. Maria Campos (COLO) 6-4, 7-5

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