THIS WEEK: After winning a pair of matches in Spokane last weekend, the Washington State Tennis team (8-2) remains on the road as it opens Pac-12 Conference play at the Los Angeles schools this week. The cougars open at UCAL, Friday, March 8 before a Saturday contest at USC. The UCLA match begins at 1:30 p.m. from the Los Angeles Tennis Center. The following day, the Cougars head across town to face USC in a Noon matchup from Marks Stadium.
 
SCOUTING UCLA: The Bruins enter the match with a 5-3 record and a No. 19 national ranking. UCLA is coming off a 5-2 win over No. 8 USC last week, its second top-10 win over the young season.  Three Bruins are ranked nationally in the most recent ITA poll, Tian Fangran (No. 62), Bianca Fernandez (career-high 65) and Kimmi Hance (91), while the duo of Ahmani Guichard and Sasha Vagramov, debuted at No. 66. UCLA leads the all-time series 29-2. Live results can be found HERE.
 
SCOUTING USC: No. 11 USC enters the weekend with a 8-4 record, with wins over four ranked teams, including No. 2 Michigan. The Trojans are ranked No. 11 in the most recent ITA poll, while four individuals are ranked in singles, led by Emma Charney (31), and two doubles pairs, with Charney and Eryn Cayetano leading the way at No. 11.  USC leads the all-time series, 27-2. Live video and scores can be found HERE.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Cougars capped a 2-0 weekend in Spokane with a 5-2 win over Fresno State. WSU opened the weekend with a 6-1 win at Gonzaga.
 
NEXT UP: Following this weekend's match, the Cougars return to Pullman to host Utah, Friday, March 15 followed by a Sunday meeting against Colorado.
 
TSE WINNING STREAK HITS 11: Following two victories last weekend, Washington State junior Elyse Tse ran her overall winning streak to 11 matches dating back to the fall. That streak includes winning her first 10 dual matches this year, the longest streak to open a dual season since 2018 when Michaela Bayerlova captured 15-straight to open the schedule. Erin Majury in 1982-83 went 24-0 in dual matches which remains the school record, Bayerlova is second, Trang Huynh (14, 2016) is third and then Tse.
 
HOLLINGBERY RENOVATION: The Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse underwent a renovation in December of 2023. A new playing surface was installed along with branded backdrops around the four courts.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: For the 2023-24 season the Cougars will have one new player accompanying the seven returners. The roster consists of seniors Fifa Kumhom and Hania Abouelsaad, juniors Maxine Murphy and Elyse Tse, along with sophomores Eva Alvarez Sande, Yura Nakagawa and Tiffany Phout. Freshman Martina Markov joins the Cougar lineup this season.
 
COACH RAQUEL ATAWO: Raquel Atawo is in her third season as head coach of the Cougars after being named to the position July 2, 2021. Atawo arrived in Pullman having spent the 2021 season as the assistant coach at Auburn and prior to that, spent 15 years on the WTA Tour, where she reached a No. 10 world ranking in doubles.
 
FOLLOW THE COUGARS: Keep up with Washington State tennis by following @WSUCougarTennis on Twitter, @wsucougartennis on Instagram, and Washington State Cougar Tennis on Facebook.