PULLMAN, Wash. – On her fourth match point of the day, senior Aneta Miksovska propelled the Cougars to their biggest upset in program history as No. 42 Washington State defeated No. 10 UCLA, 4-2, Friday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
With the win the Cougars improve to 18-7 on the season, 3-5 in Pac-12 play. The top 10 victory is the program's highest-ranked win, besting WSU's victory over No. 20 California during the 2002 season. It also marked just the second win over UCLA in the 26-match series history, the last coming in 2001. UCLA falls to 14-6, 6-2 in conference action.
 
Miksovska seemed in control early, winning the first set 6-1 against Gabby Andrews at No. 5. Andrews rebounded in the second set, winning 6-3 and forcing a decisive third. At 5-4, Miksovska served for the match, holding two match points, but could not put her opponent away. After forcing a tiebreaker, the Cougar senior jumped out quickly and never looked back, taking a 6-1 lead then closing on the win on her fourth match point. The win was her 96th as a Cougar, fourth all-time at WSU, and considering the circumstances, the biggest of her career.
 
"Today was a total team victory," said WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart. "I am so proud of the way every single player handled themselves. I think it is fitting that our seniors who have meant so much to our program earned the final points of the match. We will enjoy the victory tonight and get ready for USC Sunday. Go Cougs!"
 
The day began with doubles and all three matches came down to the wire. UCLA's Abi Altick and Alaina Miller, ranked 46 nationally, defeated Michaela Bayerlova and Miksovska at No. 3 to give UCLA the early lead. The Cougars responded as Tiffany Mylonas and Hikaru Sato defeated No. 5 Ayan Broomfield and Andrews, 6-3, at No. 1, pushing the doubles point to No. 2. There, WSU's Yang Lee and Melisa Ates held a lead in the tiebreaker but could not close out as UCLA's Jada Hart and Elysia Bolton, ranked No. 12, rallied for a 7-6 (7-5) win, giving the Bruins the 1-0 lead heading into singles.
 
The Cougars were first to strike in singles when Lee closed out a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Miller at No. 4, tying the match at 1-1. It proved to be the only match that was won in straight sets.
 
Backed by thunderous groundstrokes, Bayerlova, ranked No. 52, rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Hart at No. 1, giving WSU a 2-1 lead. Hart, ranked No. 38, is the fifth nationally-ranked player Bayerlova has defeated this season.
 
At No. 3, Mylonas grinded her way to victory as she rallied from a set down and 2-5 in the third set to defeat No. 122 Altick, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), pushing the Cougar lead to 3-1 and within one match of victory. The Bruins cut the lead in half as Broomfield came back from a set down to defeat Sato at No. 2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. The final match was stopped once the team outcome was decided. Ates was leading Taylor Johnson, 4-6, 6-3, 3-2 at No. 6.
 
The Cougars return to action Sunday when they host No. 13 USC at 11 a.m. The match will be played at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 42 Washington State 4 def. No. 10 UCLA 2
April 12, 2019
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES

1. Hikaru Sato/Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) def. #5 Gabby Andrews/Ayan Broomfield (UCLA) 6-3
2. #12 Jada Hart/Elysia Bolton (UCLA) def. Melisa Ates/Yang Lee (WSU) 7-6 (5)
3. Abi Altick/Alaina Miller (UCLA) def. Aneta Miksovska/Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) 6-4.

Order of Finish: 3,1,2
 
SINGLES

1. #52 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. No. 38 Jada Hart (UCLA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Ayan Broomfield (UCLA) def. Hikaru Sato (WSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) def. #122 Abi Altick (UCLA) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5)
4. Yang Lee (WSU) def. Alaina Miller (UCLA) 6-1, 7-5
5. Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Gabby Andrews (UCLA) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (2)
6. Melisa Ates (WSU) vs. Taylor Johnson (UCLA) 4-6, 6-3, 3-2 DNF

Order of Finish: 4,1,3,2,5