PULLMAN, Wash. (January 13, 2023) – Washington State University Tennis opened its 2023 dual season in convincing fashion with a 7-0 victory over Montana Friday morning at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
WSU came out fast to capture the opening doubles point by sweeping all three matches. The Cougar duo of Elyse Tse and Yang Lee had little trouble in a 6-1 win over Montana's Lauren Dunlap and Rosie Sterk. Fifa Kumhom and Stefaniia Mikhailova clinched the point for WSU, winning 6-2 at No. 3 over Maria Goheen and Shivika Agrawal. At No. 1, WSU's Maxine Murphy and Eva Alvarez Sande came away with a 7-5 win over Grace Haugen and Hailey Murphy.
 
In singles play, WSU's Murphy and Alvarez Sande wasted no time pushing the Cougar lead to 3-0. Murphy posted a 6-0, 6-1 win over Hailey Murphy while Alvarez Sande cruised past Dunlap, 6-1, 6-0. Kumhom provided the clinching win for the Cougars as she rolled to a 6-2, 6-1 win over Nancy Cabanas at No. 4, giving WSU the 4-0 lead with three matches remaining.
 
At No. 3, Tse and Goheen battled for nearly two hours before the Cougar sophomore came away with a 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory. Mikhailova pushed the lead to 6-0 as she captured a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 6, the first dual win over her young career. Lee completed the shutout by posting a 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-2) win over Agrawal at No. 5.
 
The Cougars are next in action February 22 when they host Gonzaga. Match time is set for Noon.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 7 def. Montana 0
January 13, 2023
Simmelink Tennis Courts
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Maxine Murphy/Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) def. Grace Haugen/Hailey Murphy (UM) 7-5
No. 2 Elyse Tse/Yang Lee (WSU) def. Lauren Dunlap/Rosie Sterk (UM) 6-1
No. 3 Fifa Kumhom/Stefaniia Mikhailova (WSU) def. Maria Goheen/Shivika Agrawal (UM) 6-2
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
 
SINGLES
No. Maxine Murphy (WSU) def. Hailey Murphy (UM) 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) def. Lauren Dunlap (UM) 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 Elyse Tse (WSU) def. Maria Goheen (UM) 6-4, 7-6 (6)
No. 4 Fifa Kumhom (WSU) def. Nancy Cabanas (UM) 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 Yang Lee (WSU) def. Shivika Agrawal (UM) 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-2)
No. 6 Stefaniia Mikhailova (WSU) def. Rosie Sterk (UM) 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1,2,4,3,6,5