Melisa Ates Hits the Century Mark in Wins Against Cal

Saturday, March 27

Berkeley, CA

12:00 PM

Washington State University

#25 California

Photo by: Robert Hubner/WSU Photo Services

March 27, 2021 | Tennis

Box Score

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. – Senior Melisa Ates captured the 100th singles victory of her career but it was not enough as No. 25 California defeated No. 47 Washington State 4-3 Saturday afternoon at the Hellman Tennis Center.

With the loss, the Cougars fall to 10-8 overall, 2-4 in Pac-12 play. Cal improves to 12-3, 5-1.

Ates gave the Cougars their first win of the day, cruising in the first set before holding on in the second for a 6-1, 7-5 victory at No. 6. With the win, she becomes just the fourth player in program history to record 100-plus singles wins. Ates needs two more to tie Elizaveta Luzina for third on WSU's career wins list.

WSU also captured wins at the top two spots in the lineup. At No. 1, Michaela Bayerlova, ranked No. 69 nationally, came from behind to defeat No. 83 Haley Giavara, 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8), avenging a straight-set loss from earlier in the season. On Court 2, Hikaru Sato played one of her best matches of the season, defeating Julia Rosenqvist 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Leading 1-0 heading into singles play, the Golden Bears posted straight-set victories on courts 3,4 and 5 to secure the win. Valentina Ivanov defeated Fifa Kumhom at 3, Hannah Viller Moeller defeated Pang Jittakoat at 4 and Anna Bright won 6-2, 6-3 over Savanna Ly-Nguyen at No. 5, handing Ly-Nguyen just her second singles loss of the season.

Cal captured the opening doubles point by sweeping the three matches.

The Cougars are next in action Thursday when they travel to Provo, Utah to face BYU.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 25 California 4 def. No. 47 Washington State 3
March 27, 2021
Hellman Tennis Center
Berkeley, Calif.

DOUBLES
No. 1 Haley Giavara/Valentina Ivanov (Cal) def. Michaela Bayerlova/Hikaru Sato (WSU) 6-3
No. 2 Hannah Viller Moeller/Anna Bright (Cal) def. Melisa Ates/Yang Lee (WSU) 6-1
No. 3 Julia Rosenqvist/Erin Richardson (Cal) vs. Pang Jittakoat/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) 7-5
Order of Finish: 1,2,3

SINGLES
No. 1 #69 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. #83 Haley Giavara (Cal) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)
No. 2 Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Julia Rosenqvist (Cal) 7-6 (3), 6-4
No. 3 Valentina Ivanov (Cal) def. Fifa Kumhom (WSU) 6-1, 6-4
No. 4 Hannah Viller Moeller (Cal) def. Pang Jittakoat (WSU) 6-2, 6-4
No. 5 Bright (Cal) def. Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Cami Brown (Cal) 6-1, 7-5
Order of Finish: 3,6,5,4,2,1