Melisa Ates Leads Cougars to Doubleheader Sweep of Eastern Washington

PULLMAN, Wash. – Senior Melisa Ates captured a pair of singles victories to move into fourth place on WSU's all-time singles wins list as Washington State Tennis completed a doubleheader sweep over Eastern Washington by identical 4-0 scores Saturday at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
With the wins, the Cougars, ranked No. 39 nationally, improve to 10-6 on the season while the Eagles fall to 3-8.
 
Ates won both matches in straight sets, giving her 99 for her career, one shy of becoming the fourth Cougar player with 100 career wins. Next on the list is Elizaveta Luzina with 102.
 
The day began with doubles and the opening point came down to the wire. At No. 3, Eastern Washington's Jennifer Kida and Renata Gabuzyan had little trouble with WSU's Savanna Ly-Nguyen and Maddie Egan, winning 6-1. At No. 2, WSU's Pang Jittakoat and Fifa Kumhom raced out to a 5-0 lead, then survived a late charge as they defeated Scout Mathews and Louise Waite, 6-4. The clinching point came down to No. 1 where WSU's Ates and Yang Lee trailed 5-2 before rallying to capture the final five games in a 7-5 comeback win, giving WSU the opening point.
 
In singles action, Ly-Nguyen, Hikaru Sato and Ates each captured convincing straight-set wins to close out the first match. WSU's No. 1 player, Michaela Bayerlova, ranked 55th nationally, was leading 6-3, 4-3 when her match was stopped.
 
In the nightcap, Sato and Egan set the tone in doubles, winning 6-0 over Kida and Gabuzyan at No. 3. Ates and Lee clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win at No. 1. The No. 2 match was stopped with Jittakoat and Kumhom leading Mathews and Waite, 4-3.
 
In singles, Sato and Jittakoat posted identical 6-0, 6-2 victories at No. 2 and 4, respectively, pushing the WSU lead to 3-0. Ates then closed out the victory as she defeated Braeden 6-4, 6-4 at No. 6. Kumhom was one game away from victory as she was leading 7-5 5-1 at No. 3, while Bayerlova and Sato had just begun play on their courts.
 
The Cougars return to Pac-12 play Friday when they travel to the Bay Area to face No. 26 Stanford.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 39 Washington State 4 def. Eastern Washington 0
March 20, 2021
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Melisa Ates/Yang Lee (WSU) def. Rylee Braeden/Zoey Nelson (EWU) 7-5
No. 2 Pang Jittakoat/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) def. Scout Mathews/Louise Waite (EWU) 6-4
No. 3 Jennifer Kida/Renata Gabuzyan (EWU) def. Savanna Ly-Nguyen/Maddie Egan (WSU) 6-1
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
SINGLES
No. 1 #55 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) vs. Jennifer Kida (EWU) 6-3, 4-3 DNF
No. 2 Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Scout Mathews (EWU) 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 Fifa Kumhom (WSU) vs. Louise Waite (EWU) DNS
No. 4 Pang Jittakoat (WSU) vs. Zoey Nelson (EWU) DNS
No. 5 Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) def. Renata Gabuzyan (EWU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 6 Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Yasmin Mansouri (EWU) 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish: 5,2,6
 
No. 39 Washington State 4 def. Eastern Washington 0
March 20, 2021
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Melisa Ates/Yang Lee (WSU) def. Rylee Braeden/Zoey Nelson (EWU) 6-3
No. 2 Pang Jittakoat/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) vs. Scout Mathews/Louise Waite (EWU) 4-3 DNF
No. 3 Hikaru Sato/Maddie Egan (WSU) def. Jennifer Kida/Renata Gabuzyan (EWU) 6-0
Order of Finish: 3,1
 
SINGLES
No. 1 #55 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) vs. Scout Mathews (EWU) 1-1 DNF
No. 2 Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Louise Waite (EWU) 6-0, 6-2
No. 3 Fifa Kumhom (WSU) vs. Zoey Nelson (EWU) 7-5, 5-1 DNF
No. 4 Pang Jittakoat (WSU) def. Renata Gabuzyan (EWU) 6-0, 6-2
No. 5 Melisa Ates (WSU) (WSU) def. Rylee Braeden (EWU) 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 Yang Lee (WSU) vs. Yasmin Mansouri (EWU) 0-1 DNF
Order of Finish: 2,4,5