NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Washington State Tennis opened its two-match road swing through southern California by posting a 4-1 victory over Cal State Northridge Friday afternoon at the Matador Tennis Complex. With the win, the Cougars improved to 10-5 on the season while CSUN falls to 6-2.
 
Play began with doubles and it was quickly evident the deciding match would come down to No. 3. The first two matches were split with each team cruising to victory. At No. 2, Victoria Santibanez Luna and Cindy Ung had no trouble defeating Yura Nakagawa and Fifa Kumhom, 6-2, while WSU's No. 1 duo of Eva Alvarez Sande and Elyse Tse soundly defeated Sasha Turchak and Yuliia Zhytelna, 6-2. The win pushed the Cougars' top team's record to 11-3 in dual match play. At No. 3, the match went back and forth as WSU's Hania Abouelsaad and Martina Markov needed a tiebreaker against Elena Goodman and Angela Ho. It ended with WSU's pair claiming a 7-6 win to secure the opening point.
 
In singles play, Abouelsaad quickly extended the lead to 2-0 as she completed a 6-1, 6-2 win over Ho at No. 5. Abouelsaad, who improved her dual record to 10-4 this season, continues her solid play as she has now won seven of her last nine matches. Northridge found its only win of the day at No. 6 when Goodman completed a 7-5, 6-1 win over Markova.
 
Alvarez Sande improved her dual-match record to 10-5 after posting a 6-2, 7-5 win over Turchak at No. 1, moving the Cougars to within one win of clinching the match. It wasn't long as Nakagawa rallied from a set down to defeat Santibanez Luna, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3, securing the team victory.
 
The two remaining matches were abandoned once the team victory was no longer in doubt, with WSU nearing victory in both. Tse was leading Zhytelna, 7-6, 5-3 at No. 2, while Kumhom was up 7-6, 6-2 over Emma Moratalla at No. 4.
 
The Cougars continue their southern California swing Saturday when they visit Cal State Fullerton. Match time is set for 11 a.m.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
#73 Washington State 4 def. Cal State Northridge 1
March 22, 2024
Matador Tennis Courts
Northridge, Calif.
 
DOUBLES
No.1 Eva Alvarez Sande/Elyse Tse (WSU) def. Sasha Turchak/Yuliia Zhytelna (CSUN) 6-2
No. 2 Victoria Santibanez Luna/Cindy Ung (CSUN) def. Fifa Kumhom/Yura Nakagawa (WSU) 6-2
No. 3 Hania Abouelsaad/Martina Markov (WSU) def. Elena Goodman/Angela Ho (CSUN) 7-6
Order of Finish:2,1,3
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) def. Sasha Turchak (CSUN) 6-2, 7-5
No. 2 Elyse Tse (WSU) vs. Yuliia Zhytelna (CSUN) 7-6, 5-3 DNF
No. 3 Yura Nakagawa (WSU) def. Victoria Santibanez Luna (CSUN) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 Fifa Kumhom (WSU) vs. Emma Moratalla Sanz (CSUN) 7-6, 5-2 DNF
No. 5 Hania Abouelsaad (WSU) def. Angela Ho (CSUN) 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 Elena Goodman (CSUN) def. Martina Markov (WSU) 7-5, 6-1
Order of Finish: 5,6,1,3