Cougars Strong in 6-1 Win over Idaho

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University Tennis won five of six singles matches en route to a 6-1 victory over Idaho Friday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
With the win, the Cougars improve to 5-4 on the season while Idaho falls to 1-4.
 
Doubles play opened the day as the Cougars wasted no time taking two matches to clinch the opening point. Michaela Bayerlova and Hikaru Sato cruised to a 6-2 victory over Maggie Chen and Katherine Jheng at No. 2 while Pang Jittakoat and Fifa Kumhom secured the opening point with a 6-1 win at No. 3 over Marta Magalhaes and Saffron Dowse. The No. 1 match was stopped with Idaho's Laura Spataro and Melissa Huchet leading Melisa Ates and Yang Lee, 4-2.
 
In singles action, Bayerlova, ranked No. 55 nationally, quickly pushed the Cougar lead to 2-0 as she defeated Huchet, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1. The lead grew to 3-0 when Savanna Ly-Nguyen completed a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 4 over Marta Magalhaes, improving to 7-0 in singles this season.
 
Ates secured the team victory with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 6, giving the Cougars a 4-0 lead with three matches remaining. Idaho found its lone win of the match at No. 3 when Jheng completed a three-set comeback win over Kumhom, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
 
The final two matches went the Cougars way at Jittakoat had no trouble defeating Chen at No. 5, 6-0, 6-2, while Sato grinded out a three-set win at No. 2 over Spataro, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.
 
The Cougars are next in action Friday, March 5 when they open Pac-12 play against No. 6 UCLA.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Washington State 6 def. Idaho 1
February 26, 2021
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Melisa Ates/Yang Lee (WSU vs. Laura Spataro/Mellisa Huchet (UI) 2-4 DNF
No. 2 Michaela Bayerlova/Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Maggie Chen/Katherine Jheng (UI) 6-2
No. 3 Pang Jittakoat/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) def. Marta Magalhaes (UI) 6-1
Order of Finish: 2,3
 
SINGLES
No. 1 #55 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. Melissa Huchet (UI) 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Laura Spataro (UI) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
No. 3 Katherine Jheng (UI) def. Fifa Kumhom (WSU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) def. Marta Magalhaes (UI) 6-2, 6-0
No. 5 Pang Jittakoat (WSU) def. Maggie Chen (UI) 6-0, 6-2
No. 6 Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Saffron Dowse (UI) 6-2, 6-0
Order of Finish: 1,4,6,3,5,2