Cougars Open Pac-12 Play Against No. 31 USC, No. 63 UCLA

THIS WEEK: The Washington State Tennis team (7-4 this season) brings a three-match winning streak into the weekend as it begins its 2023 Pac-12 Conference schedule by hosting the Los Angeles schools. The Cougars face No. 31 USC Friday, March 3, at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5, the Cougars will host No. 63 UCLA at 11 a.m. Both matches will be held at the Simmelink Tennis Courts at Hollingbery Fieldhouse.
 
SCOUTING USC: USC enters the week with a 6-2 record this season, coming off a 7-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara in its last match. The Trojans only losses have come to current No. 14 Notre Dame and No. 10 Texas. The Trojans have 5 players nationally ranked, led by No. 4 Madison Sieg and two doubles teams, with Naomi Cheong and Snow Han leading the way at No. 19. defeat to Portland last Sunday in Cheney. The Trojans own a 26-2 all-time record against WSU, though the Cougars won the last meeting in Pullman, 4-3, during the 2021 season.
 
SCOUTING UCLA: The Bruins bring a 3-2 record into the week as they open Pac-12 play Friday at Washington before traveling to Pullman for Sunday’s matchup. UCLA has had two matches postponed this season and has won its last two outings. UCLA has three singles players and one doubles team ranked, with the duo of Kimmi Hance and Elise Wagle UCLA leads the all-time series, 33-2.
 
LAST WEEK: WSU swept its final two nonconference matches by defeating Eastern Washington (7-0) and Saint Mary’s (5-2).
 
NEXT UP: Washington State continues its seven-match homestand as it hosts the Arizona schools, March 17 and 19. Arizona is first up March 17 at 1:30 p.m. followed by Arizona State March 19 at 11 a.m.
 
NET NOTES:

• WSU is riding a season-long three-match winning streak heading into the USC match.
• Freshman Eva Alvarez Sande leads the team with 30 combined singles and doubles wins this season.
• WSU is in the middle of a season-long seven-match homestand (2-0 so far).

 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: For the 2022-23 season the Cougars will have three new players to accompany the six returners. The returning roster consists of fifth-year senior Yang Lee, junior Fifa Kumhom and sophomores Hania Abouelsaad, Stefaniia Mikhailova, Maxine Murphy and Elyse Tse. Joining the Cougar tennis program this year are freshmen Eva Alvarez Sande, Yura Nakagawa and Tiffany Phout.
 
COACH RAQUEL ATAWO: Raquel Atawo is in her second season as head…