PULLMAN – Colorado Buffaloes women's tennis team fell to No.39-ranked Washington State Friday afternoon here by a score of 6-1 in the Pac-12 conference opener.
 
The Cougars (10-3, 1-0 Pac-12) jumped out to a quick lead after securing the doubles point against Colorado (8-5, 0-1 Pac-12). Michaela Bayerlova and Hikaru Sato defeated the 64^th-ranked duo in Monica Malinen and Sara Nayar 6-2, while Melisa Ates and Yang Lee took down Ky Ecton and Sophia Derivan 6-3 in the No.2 doubles match.
 
Singles began with the No.1-4 singles matches occurring at the same time. Antonia Balzert fell first in the No.3 singles match against Savanna Ly-Nguyen 6-4, 6-1. Shortly after that, No.46-ranked Bayerlova secured the No.1 singles match against Monica Malinen with a pair of 6-4 sets.
 
Washington State clinched the match after a tough two-set match in the No.2 singles match with Sato defeating Nayar 7-5, 6-4.
 
Action continued after the match was clinched. Colorado won its first match in the No.4 match as Derivan took the first set against Ates 6-3 before dropping the second 7-5. The freshman took the match with a decisive 6-2 third set. In the No.5 singles match, Pang Jittakoat took the first set against Megan Forster 6-3 and followed up with a second set 6-2 win. The final match saw Lee take the first set against Maria Campos 6-4 and the second 7-5.
 
CU has a short turnaround as the team heads back to Seattle Sunday at 12 p.m. MT to take on No.30-ranked Washington. The team opens Pac-12 home play against Arizona State Friday, March 13, at 1:30 p.m.
 
RESULTS
Singles
1. #46 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. Monica Malinen 6-4, 6-4
2. Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Sara Nayar 7-5, 6-4
3. Savanna Ly-Nyugen (WSU) def. Antonia Balzert 6-4, 6-1
4. Sophia Derivan (COLO) def. Melisa Ates 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
5. Pang Jittakoat (WSU) def. Megan Forster 6-3, 6-2
6. Yang Lee (WSU) def. Maria Campos 6-4, 7-5
 
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
 
Doubles
1. Bayerlova/Sato (WSU) def. #64 Malinen/Nayar 6-2
2. Ates/Lee (WSU) def. Ecton/Derivan 6-3
3. Forster/Balzert (COLO) vs. Jittakoat/Knezvic 4-4
 
Order of Finish: 1, 2