The Cougar tennis team earned in-state bragging rights on Friday after serving up a 4-0 shutout against the rival Huskies in Pullman.

“The UW match is always an emotional match, and I am proud of our players for staying tough, playing for each other, and battling for the win,” WSU Head Coach Lisa Hart said.

Washington State improved to 16-8 (2-5 Pac-12) while the Huskies fell to 10-9 (0-7 Pac-12).

In doubles play, the No. 1 team of junior Elizaveta Luzina and sophomore Lize Leenknecht fell to UW junior Elianne Douglas-Miron and junior Riko Shimizu 8-2. The Cougars bounced back at No. 2 when WSU sophomore Maria Biryukova and senior Olga Musilovich defeated UW sophomore Grace Ysidora and junior Natali Coronel 8-6.

WSU secured the doubles point at No. 3 when Cougar junior Charlotte Koning and sophomore Dajana Ognjenovic came out on top against UW junior Julija Lukac and senior Andjela Nemcevic 8-5.

“All season we have had different players step up to secure team victories,” Hart said. “More so than any other year, we have had contributions from every single position in singles and doubles. This team is all about finding four victories, and they truly don’t care who gets the credit as long as our team wins.”  

In singles play, Musilovich was first off the court at No. 4 with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Nemcevic, which brought the Cougar’s lead to 2-0. At No. 2, Biryukova proved to be too much for UW’s Ysidora with a 6-4, 6-3 win.

Fresh off her upset win against Pepperdine’s 25th-ranked junior Lorraine Guillermo, No. 106 Luzina clinched the win for WSU at No. 1 with a 6-0, 7-6 win against No. 107 Douglas-Miron.

“Liza is playing her best tennis of her collegiate career,” Hart said. “On the right day she can beat anyone in the country. I am proud of the way Liza has stepped up this year playing number-one singles in every match.”  

Women’s tennis will be back in action on Wednesday when the No. 68 ranked Denver Pioneers come to Pullman for an 11 a.m. showdown on the outdoor tennis courts.

“We have four home matches left,” Hart said. “We want to finish strong at home and put ourselves in a good position hopefully heading to post season play.”