Montana
Washington State
Washington State defeats Griz, 6-1
1/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 31, 2014
Photo Gallery 
An emotional, emphatic "Yes!" echoed off the walls.
Haley Driver had just defeated Washington State's Maria Biryukova in a thrilling third set tiebreaker and her excitement resonated with the fans at the Peak, who applauded with her.
Driver earned Montana its lone point of the afternoon, as the Cougars won 6-1 in the Grizzlies season-opener at the Peak Racquet Club in Missoula on Friday afternoon. In the No. 2 singles flight, Biryukova won the first set 6-4, but Driver kept fighting, winning the second set by a mirrored score, before earning the tiebreak,10-8.
"She's been working really hard at the psychological side of the game," Head coach Steve Ascher said. "And that came into play today. She made some nice adjustments, and she came forward and became the aggressor coming toward the net."
The Cougars improved to 4-1 on the season, winning four of the five singles matches in straight sets. There was not a No. 6 singles match for Montana, so Charlotte Koning won by default. It was opening weekend for the Griz, but the Cougars have been competing for several weeks.
"It's a good experience," Ascher added. "They're already played five matches. They're a good team.
"For us, we're starting a little bit later, but the hope is that we'll be a little more fresh down the road."
The closest straight-set win for Washington State came in the No. 4 singles matchup. Olga Musilovich defeated Laurence Pelchat in two close sets, 6-4 and 7-6.
"We did a nice job of competing today," Ascher said. "In terms of our first match, this was really good. We need a few more of these and we'll be clicking on all cylinders. I think this match will help a lot in terms of getting ourselves back into match play."
"Our players are focused on the developmental pieces," Ascher said. "They're gonna win their fair share of matches."
Washington State 6, Montana 1
Jan. 31, 2014 at Missoula, Mont. (Peak Racquet Club)
Singles Results
1. Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) def. Precious Gbadamosi (UM), (6-3, 6-0)
2. Haley Driver (UM) def. Maria Biryukova (WSU) (4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8)
3. Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Sasha Carter (UM), (6-1, 6-0)
4. Olga Musilovich (WSU) def. Laurence Pelchat (UM), (6-4, 7-6)
5. Dajana Ognjenovic (WSU) def. Maddy Murray (UM), (6-1, 6-3)
6. Charlotte Koning wins by default
Doubles Results
1. Precious Gbadamosi and Haley Driver (UM) and Elizaveta Luzina and Maria Biryukova (WSU), unfinished 5-3 UM
2. Lize Leenknecht and Olga Musilovich (WSU) def. Laurence Pelchat and Sasha Carter (UM), 6-3
3. Charlotte Koning and Dajana Ognjenovic (WSU) def. Maddy Murray and Anabel Carbo-Estruch (UM), 6-3
Match Notes
WSU: 4-1
Montana: 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles: (2,3); Singles: (3,1,4,2,5)
Players Mentioned
