SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington State Tennis led from start to finish en route to a 6-1 win over Gonzaga Friday afternoon at the Stevens Center. With the victory, the Cougars improved to 7-2 on the season while Gonzaga fell to 5-7.
 
Washington State jumped out quick by sweeping all three doubles matches to earn the opening point. Hania Abouelsaad and Martina Markova finished first after a 6-4 win over Brooke Bittner and Caroline Wernli at No. 3. The point was clinched at No. 2 when Yura Nakagawa and Fifa Kumhom completed a 6-2 win over Emily Robertson and Ella Nielsen. At No. 1, Eva Alvarez Sande and Elyse Tse defeated Kianna Oda and Tiegan Aitken 6-3 to complete the sweep.
 
In singles action, WSU captured the first three matches to clinch the team victory. Alvarez Sanda was first off following a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 1 over Robertson. At No. 5, Abouelsaad defeated Wernli 6-4, 6-3 before Kumhom sealed the victory with a 6-3 6-3 win over Aitken at No. 4.
 
Gonzaga earned its lone win of the day when Oda outlasted Nakagawa 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-6) at No. 2. Tse, at No. 3, saved four matches points in the third-set tiebreaker as she rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (13-11) victory over Nielsen. In the final match of the day, Markova needed three set en route to a 3-6, 7-6 (3), 1-0 (10-6) win over Bittner at No. 6.
 
The Cougars remain in Spokane as they will face Fresno State Saturday at the Stevens Center. Match time is set for Noon.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 6 def. Gonzaga 1
March 1, 2024
Stevens Center
Spokane, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Eva Alvarez Sande/Elyse Tse (WSU) def. Kianna Oda/Tiegan Aitken (GU) 6-3
No. 2 Yura Nakagawa/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) def. Emily Robertson/Ella Nielsen (GU) 6-2
No. 3 Hania Abouelsaad/Martina Markov (WSU) def. Brooke Bittner/Caroline Wernli (GU) 6-4
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) def. Emily Robertson (GU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 Kianna Oda (GU) def. Yura Nakagawa (WSU) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-6)
No. 3 Elyse Tse (WSU) def. Ella Nielsen (GU) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (13-11)
No. 4 Fifa Kumhom (WSU) def. Tiegan Aitken (GU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 Hania Abouelsaad (WSU) def. Caroline Wernli (GU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 Martina Markov (WSU) def. Brooke Bittner (GU) 3-6, 7-6 (3), 1-0 (10-6)
Order of Finish: 1,5,4,2,3,6