The WSU Cougar tennis team concluded their three-day trip to Seattle to compete in the Washington Invitational. On the weekend, they went 10-16 overall which included a 0-6 final game. 

The invitational was played in the format of a hidden duel. WSU played against one school in six singles matches and another school in three doubles matches. This is how the event was played for the first two days, with the final day being six singles matches between WSU and University of Washington. 

The other three schools in attendance were Oregon, DePaul and the hosting Washington Huskies. 

On the first day, the Cougs went 5-7 with two wins in singles action and three wins in doubles competition. The singles competition was against Oregon and the doubles competition was played against DePaul. 

Eva Alvarez Sande and Maxine Murphy picked up the singles wins for the squad, winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 and 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 respectively. Alvarez Sande continued her undefeated streak from last weekend with the win and looked strong in doing so. 

In other singles actions, Yura Nakagawa fell 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 and Fifa Kumhom lost to a scoreline of 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. The other two singles competitors lost in sweeps, as Elyse Tse lost 6-3, 6-1 and Stefaniia Mikhailova took the loss 6-4, 6-2.

In doubles actions, WSU played against both Washington and DePaul and went 3-3 overall. Against DePaul, they won twice and lost once in the three matches against the school. As for Washington, they won only once out of the three matches. 

The duo of Yang Lee/Kumhom got the sole win against a UW team 6-2. With Murphy/Tse losing 7-6 and Alvarez Sande/Nakagawa losing 6-1. It was the first loss of the freshman Alvarez Sande’s short time at WSU, as she has impressed in all facets of her game. 

Against DePaul, Murphy/Tse beat their opposition 6-2 and Mikhailova/Kumhom took the win 6-3, in the sole loss against the Dibs was from Alvarez Sande/Nakagawa with a final score of 6-2. 

On day two, WSU went 3-2 against DePaul in singles action and 2-1 in doubles action against Oregon. Murphy (6-2, 6-1), Tse (6-2, 6-2) and Lee (6-2, 6-3) won their matches in singles competition and Alvarez Sande (6-4, 7-5) and Mikhailova (6-1, 4-6, 6-2) lost in their matches. 

In the two doubles wins on the second day, Murphy/Tse dominated in a 6-3 victory and Lee/Mikhailova made few mistakes in a 6-1 win. The only doubles loss was Alvarez Sande/Nakagawa who had no momentum ending in a 6-2 final score. 

The final day of the weekend was the worst result for the Cougs, losing all six matches they played against the rival Washington Huskies. There was little that went well for any player on Sunday, as only one player was even able to get to a third set against their opponent.

WSU will have to use the final day as improvement opportunities and to learn from mistakes, as little more can be taken from the beatdown. Disregarding the last day, the invitational was a strong showing for the Cougs, as they played the toughest competition they have seen thus far this season.

Next up for the Cougs is the ITA Northwest regionals on Friday through Sunday in Stanford, California.