No. 9 Cal Escapes with 4-3 Win over Cougars

PULLMAN, Wash. (April 8, 2022) – Washington State Tennis' upset bid fell one match short as the ninth-ranked California Golden Bears escaped with a 4-3 victory Friday afternoon at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
On a day when weather forced the match inside, the Cougars (6-13, 1-7 Pac-12) came out strong, capturing wins on Courts 1 and 2 to take the opening doubles point. On Court 2, Savanna Ly-Nguyen and Yang Lee led the entire way en route to a 6-4 win over Haley Giavara and Hannah Viller Moeller. The Cougars clinched the point when Michaela Bayerlova and Maxine Murphy posted a 6-4 win over Jessica Alsola and Katja Wiersholm, the nation's 33rd-ranked doubles team. Court 3 was stopped with WSU's Hania Abouelsaad and Fifa Kumhom tied 5-5 with Julia Rosenqvist and Erin Richardson.
 
In singles play, Bayerlova, ranked No. 71, continued her impressive season as she posted a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 92 Giavara on Court 1. The win improved Bayerlova's season record to 15-2 and moved her into eighth place on WSU's career wins list with 88.
 
Cal (13-6, 6-1) found its first point of the match when Rosenqvist completed a well-played 6-3, 6-2 win over Abouelsaad at No. 4, cutting WSU's lead to 2-1. At No. 3, Murphy fought back to force a third set after dropping the first 6-2, before falling to Wiersholm, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
 
At No. 2, Ly-Nguyen won for the sixth time in her last seven matches as she rallied from a set down to defeated the nation's 50th-ranked player, Alsola, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2. The win put the Cougars ahead 3-2 and also improved Ly-Nguyen's three-set record to 7-3 this season.
 
At No. 6, Cal's Richardson trailed 3-2 in the first before reeling off 10 of the next 11 games to win 6-3, 6-1 over WSU's Stefaniia Mikhailova. With the match tied 3-3, Tse and Viller Moeller were locked in a tight battle at No. 5. After falling 7-6 in the first set, Tse drew no closer, falling 6-2 in the second, as Cal emerged with the team victory.
 
The Cougars are next in action Sunday when they host No. 17 Stanford. Match time is set for 10 a.m. at the Simmelink Tennis Courts.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 9 California 4 def. Washington State 3
April 8, 2022
Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse
Pullman, Wash.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Michaela Bayerlova/Maxine Murphy (WSU) def. #33 Jessica Alsola/Katja Wiersholm (Cal) 6-4
No. 2 Savanna Ly-Nguyen/Yang Lee (WSU) def. Haley Giavara/Hannah Viller Moeller (Cal) 6-4
No. 3 Hania Abouelsaad/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) vs. Julia Rosenqvist/Erin Richardson (Cal) 5-5 DNF
Order of Finish: 2,1
 
SINGLES
No. 1 #71 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. #92 Haley Giavara (Cal) 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) def. #50 Jessica Alsola (Cal) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 #103 Katja Wiersholm (Cal) def. Maxine Murphy (WSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
No. 4 Julia Rosenqvist (Cal) def. Hania Abouelsaad (WSU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 Hannah Viller Moeller (Cal) def. Elyse Tse (WSU) 7-6 (1), 6-2
No. 6 Erin Richardson (Cal) def. Stefaniia Mikhailova (WSU) 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish:  1,4,3,2,6,5