CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (January 27, 2023) – Sophomore Maxine Murphy provided the Cougars with their lone victory as No. 8 Virginia posted a 4-1 win over Washington State Friday afternoon in the first round of the 2023 ITA Kickoff Weekend at the Boar's Head Sports Club.
 
With the loss, the Cougars fall to 2-1 on the season while the Cavaliers improve to 3-0.
 
Virginia opened the afternoon by sweeping all three doubles matches, though all were competitive. First off was No. 3 where the Cavalier duo of Elaine Chevinsky and Sara Ziodato defeated Elyse Tse and Hania Abouelsaad, 6-3. On Court 2, WSU's Fifa Kumhom and Yura Nakagawa surrendered an early break and never recovered, falling 6-3 to Natasha Subhash and Annabelle Xu. At No. 1, WSU's duo of Maxine Murphy and Eva Alvarez Sande dropped a close, 6-4, decision to Julia Adams and Melodie Collard.
 
In singles play, the Cougars battled, forcing three matches to a third set while Virginia won the remaining three in straight sets. At No. 6, Collard quickly increased Virginia's lead to 2-0 as she defeated Stefaniia Mikhailova, 6-1, 6-1 while Subash, ranked No. 90, completed a 6-0, 6-2 win over Alvarez Sande at No. 2 to push the lead to 3-0.
 
Murphy was a bright sport for WSU, as she rallied from a set down to take control of the final two sets in posting a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Adams, the nation's 34th-ranked player. The victory marked the third ranked win of Murphy's career and the highest-ranked player she has defeated.
 
At No. 5, Kumhom dropped a break of serve each set, falling to No. 77 Hibah Shaikh, 6-4, 6-3, clinching the match for Virginia. The remaining two matches were stopped with Nakagawa on serve at 6-4, 3-6, 1-2 versus Ziodato at No. 3 and Tse was all even with No. 62 Xu, 6-3, 3-6, 2-2 at No. 4.
 
WSU will face either Northwestern or South Carolina in Saturday's consolation match. Match time is set for 3:30 p.m. PT.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 8 Virginia 4 def. Washington State 1
January 27, 2023
Boar's Head Sports Club
Charlottesville, Va.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Julia Adams/Melodie Collard (UVA) def. Maxine Murphy/Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) 6-4
No. 2 Natasha Subhash/Annabelle Xu (UVA) def. Fifa Kumhom/Yura Nakagawa (WSU) 6-3
No. 3 Elaine Chervinsky/Sara Ziodato (UVA) def. Elyse Tse/Hania Abouelsaad (WSU) 6-3
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Maxine Murphy (WSU) def. #34 Julia Adams (UVA) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 #90 Natasha Subash (UVA) def. Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) 6-0, 6-2
No. 3 Yura Nakagawa (WSU) vs. Sara Ziodato (UVA) 6-4, 3-6, 1-2 DNF
No. 4 Elyse Tse (WSU) vs. #62 Annabelle Xu (UVA) 6-3, 3-6, 2-2 DNF
No. 5 #77 Hibah Shaikh (UVA) def. Fifa Kumhom (WSU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 #98 Melodie Collard (UVA) def. Stefaniia Mikhailova (WSU) 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6,2,1,5