WSU tennis defeated the University of North Texas on Saturday where neither team had home-court advantage.

While in Kansas, the Cougars won their seventh match of the season 4-1. WSU then played Kansas State University on Sunday, where the team suffered its first loss of the season 4-3.

After the match against North Texas (3-3), Head Coach Lisa Hart said her team competed at a high level against a difficult opponent.

“I’m proud of the way our players fought today and found a way to get the team win,” Hart said in a WSU news release. “North Texas is a tough team and very well coached. Tomorrow will be a great test against a good Kansas State team.”

The Cougars won the doubles point to be the first on the scoreboard. The only point North Texas scored in the match came when junior Tamuna Kutubidze defeated WSU sophomore Guzal Yusupova in the second match of the meet. WSU freshman Michaela Bayerlova, junior Tiffany Mylonas and senior Barbora Michalkova won the rest of the singles matches to claim the victory and improve to 7-0 on the season.

Next up to challenge the Cougars was Kansas State. The Wildcats captured the first points of the match with a win in doubles. Bayerlova, Mylonas and Yusupova then grabbed wins in singles to put the cougars up 3-1. However, KSU rallied back and matched the Cougars to make it 3-3.

The final match was between Michalkova and Kansas State sophomore Ines Mesquita. Michalkova lost the match 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 to give the Wildcats a 4-3 victory. The matches between the Cougars and KSU lasted over five hours after starting at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Hart said the first loss of the season was a tough one, but said her team will rebound.

“Heartbreaking loss for our team today,” Hart said in the release. “I think you learn the most about players and teams by how they respond to stress and uncomfortable situations—our players were warriors today and I am proud of them. We have a little rest now and then we will go back to work in preparation for Minnesota later this month.”

The Cougars will return to Pullman at noon Feb. 23 to face University of Minnesota at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.