THIS WEEK: After a brief, one-match stop at home, the Washington State Tennis team (6-2) heads back out on the road for matches at Gonzaga and against Fresno State. The Cougars begin the stretch t Gonzaga, Friday, Mar. 1 at 3 p.m. from the Stevens Center on the Gonzaga camp. Saturday, Mar. 2, WSU will face Fresno State in a neutral-site match at the Steven Center beginning at Noon. This weekend marks the final tune-up before Pac-12 play begins at UCLA Mar. 8.
SCOUTING GONZAGA: The Bulldogs (5-6) enter the weekend riding a two-match winning streak, having defeated Eastern Washington and Utah State last weekend. Gonzaga is led by freshman Emily Robertson, who is 7-2 in dual matches this season, all at the No. 1 position. WSU holds a 24-1 advantage in the series, including a 4-3 win last season in Pullman.
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE: Fresno State enters the weekend with a 6-4 record, coming off a 4-3 win over Cal Poly last weekend. The Bulldogs are led by senior Carolina Piferi, who after dropping her opening dual match against Arizona State, has won her last eight, three of those at the No. 1 position. WSU is 6-13 all-time against Fresno State, including a 5-2 win in Fresno last season.
LAST TIME OUT: The Cougars posted a 6-1 victory over Montana at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
NEXT UP: Following this weekend’s match, the Cougars begin Pac-12 Conference play as they travel to southern California to face UCLA (Mar. 8) and USC (Mar. 9).
COUGS OFF TO FAST START: A few Cougars are off to fast starts in the dual season:
HOLLINGBERY RENOVATION: The Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse underwent a renovation in December of 2023. A new playing surface was installed along with branded backdrops around the four courts.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: For the 2023-24 season the Cougars will have one new player accompanying the seven returners. The roster consists of seniors Fifa Kumhom and Hania Abouelsaad, juniors Maxine Murphy and Elyse Tse, along with sophomores Eva Alvarez Sande, Yura Nakagawa and Tiffany Phout. Freshman Martina Markov joins the Cougar lineup this season.
COACH RAQUEL ATAWO: Raquel Atawo is in her third season as head coach of the Cougars after being named to the position July 2, 2021. Atawo arrived in Pullman having spent the 2021 season as the assistant coach at Auburn and prior to that, spent 15 years on the WTA Tour,…
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