Cougars Post 4-1 Win Over Utah

Cougars Post 4-1 Win Over Utah
 
PULLMAN, Wash. – For the second-straight match, Savanna Ly-Nguyen provided the clinching point as the No. 38 Cougars defeated Utah 4-1 Thursday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
With the win the Cougars improve to 7-5 on the season while Utah falls to 6-5.
 
Ly-Nguyen, who improved to 9-1 in singles play this season, had little trouble in posting a 6-1, 6-2 win over Utah's Madison Tattini at No. 1. The victory pushed the Cougar lead to 4-1 with two matches remaining. Those matches were stopped once the team outcome was decided.
 
WSU began the day strong in doubles, winning on courts 2 and 3 by identical 6-1 scores to capture the opening point. On Court 2, WSU's Melisa Ates and Yang Lee were first off after defeating Anastasia Goncharova and Lindsay Hung, followed closely by Pang Jittakoat and Fifa Kumhom's win over Anya Lamoreaux and Madison Tattini. The win for Jittakoat and Kumhom was their team-leading ninth of the season. On Court 1, WSU's Michaela Bayerlova and Hikaru Sato were on serve against Madeline Lamoreaux and Emily Dush at 3-4.
 
In singles play, Sato rolled at No. 2, defeating Hung, 6-2, 6-1 to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Not long after, Bayerlova, ranked No. 55 nationally, completed a 6-3, 6-3 win over Madelina Lamoreaux at No. 1 for a 3-0 lead. The win was Bayerlova's 70th for her Cougar career.
 
Senior Melisa Ates looked good early, winning her first set 6-2 before Anya Lamoreaux rallied for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6, accounting for Utah's lone victory. At No. 3 Kumhom was on serve in the third against Dush at 7-5, 4-6, 4-5, which Jittakoat was down a set at 3-6, 3-3 against Goncharova at No. 4.
 
WSU returns to Pac-12 play Friday when it hosts No. 26 Arizona State at 1:30 p.m. That match is scheduled for the WSU Outdoor Tennis Courts.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
#38 Washington State 4 vs Utah 1
March 11, 2021
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Michaela Bayerlova/Hikaru Sato (WSU) vs. Madeline Lamoreaux/Emily Dush (UU) 3-4 DNF
No. 2 Melisa Ates/Yang Lee (WSU) def. Anastasia Goncharova/Lindsay Hung (UU) 6-1
No. 3 Pang Jittakoat/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) def. Anya Lamoreaux/Madison Tattini (UU) 6-1
Order of Finish: 2,3
 
SINGLES
No. 1 #55 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. Madeline Lamoreaux (UU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Lindsay Hung (UU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 Fifa Kumhom (WSU) vs. Emily Dush (UU) 7-5, 4-6, 4-5 DNF
No. 4 Pang Jittakoat (WSU) vs. Anastasia Goncharova (UU) 3-6, 3-3 DNF
No. 5 Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) def. Madison Tattini (UU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 Anya Lamoreaux (UU) def. Melisa Ates (WSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Order of Finish: 2,1,6,5