The sound of racquets striking tennis balls echoed throughout Hollingbery Fieldhouse as WSU tennis defeated Purdue University 7-0 Saturday on the Simmelink Courts.

The Cougars lost to the Boilermakers last year 1-6, but were able to turn the tables on Purdue this season.

WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart said her team came ready to play and eager to beat a school they’ve lost to in the past.

“I think we’ve improved and we have a couple new players … at the top of the lineup,” Hart said. “I think we just played really well, we competed really well.”

The Cougars grabbed the first point of the day by winning two doubles matches thanks to juniors Aneta Miksovska and Tiffany Mylonas, sophomore Guzal Yusupova and freshman Michaela Bayerlova. All four also won their respective singles matches.

Sophomore Melisa Ates and senior Barbora Michalkova were the other singles winners of the day. Both Ates and Miksovska played a third set before they picked up their wins.

WSU entered the day 5-0 on the season, with Purdue holding a similarly successful 4-1 record. After getting the win, the Cougars stay undefeated. The team is off to their best start since the 2015-2016 season.

“I was really impressed with the energy from everybody,” Hart said, “and I think it was the most complete match we’ve played yet as a team.”

This meet marked the third home meet of 10 this season. WSU won’t be back for their next home match until Feb. 23 when they face University of Minnesota.

Mylonas and Michalkova said the home crowd had a big impact on the meet.

“It’s good, it’s better to play home so we have all the supporters, the fans that are here for us,” Mylonas said.

“They help us a lot actually, and they bring the energy with them,” Michalkova said. “For me especially it was a key point in my mind because my friends showed up when I was down 4-5, so it helped me a lot.”

After the home victory, WSU will travel to Manhattan, Kansas, for two road meets. First up is North Texas University starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. They will take on Kansas State University the following day at 9 a.m.

Mylonas said the undefeated title has a nice ring to it.

“It feels good, the hard work that we do at practice we put it on the court,” Mylonas said, “and that’s why we won.”