SEATTLE, Wash. – Washington State Tennis saw its comeback fall short as the Cougars dropped a 5-2 decision to Baylor Saturday afternoon at the Nordstrom Tennis Center on the Washington campus. With the loss, the Cougars fall to 4-1 on the season while Baylor, who is receiving votes in the coaches poll just outside of the Top 25, improved to 2-2.
 
Baylor jumped out first in doubles as Miska Kadleckova and Danielle Tuhten cruised past Yura Nakagawa and Fifa Kumhom, winning 6-1 at No. 2. The Bears clinched the doubles point at No. 3 where Zuzanna Frankowska and Zuzanna Kubacha swept the final four games for a 6-2 win over Hania Abouelsaad and Martina Markov. At No. 1, the Cougar duo of Eva Alvarez Sande and Elyse Tse could not capitalize on their first three match points up 5-3, saved four match points by defeating Liubov Kostenko and Sierra Berry, 7-6 (9-7).
 
In singles play, Baylor quickly increased its lead to 2-0 as Frankowska posted a 6-3, 6-1 win over Markov at No. 6. At No. 1, it came down to a few key points as Kadleckova escaped with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Alvarez Sande, pushing the lead to 3-0.
 
WSU cut the lead to 3-2 as Nakagawa and Tse finished withing minutes of each other after both posted straight-set wins. Nakagawa was steady throughout as she defeated Berry, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2. Tse followed with a 6-4, 7-5 win when her passing shot on match point landed inside the baseline to defeat Kubacha, ranked No. 102, at No. 4.
 
Baylor clinched the match at No. 3 was Kostenko rallied from a set down to defeat Kumhom, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. The final match of the day saw Tuhten needing three sets to defeat Abouelsaad, 6-4, 2-6, 10-6, as the third set was a 10-point tiebreaker with the team outcome already decided.
 
The Cougars are next in action Friday when they face the University of Portland in Portland.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Baylor 5 def. Washington State 2
February 3, 2024
Nordstrom Tennis Center
Seattle, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Eva Alvarez Sande/Elyse Tse (WSU) def. Liubov Kostenko/Sierra Berry (BU) 7-6 (9-7)
No. 2 Miska Kadleckova/Danielle Tuhten (BU) def. Yura Nakagawa/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) 6-1
No. 3 Zuzanna Frankowska/Zuzanna Kubacha (BU) def. Hania Abouelsaad/Martina Markov (WSU) 6-2
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Miska Kadleckova (BU) def. Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 Yura Nakagawa (WSU) def. Sierra Berry (BU) 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 Liubov Kostenko (BU) def. Fifa Kumhom (WSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 Elyse Tse (WSU) def. #102 Zuzanna Kubacha (BU) 6-4, 7-5
No. 5 Danielle Tuhten (BU) def. Hania Abouelsaad (WSU) 6-4, 2-6, 10-6
No. 6 Zuzanna Frankowska (BU) def. Martina Markov (WSU) 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6,1,2,4,3,5