FRESNO, Calif. – Playing for the second time in as many days, the Sacramento State women's tennis team went up against the Fresno State Bulldogs Saturday afternoon. The Hornets had big wins from both Jayden Nielsen and Tsveti Yotova, but ultimately fell to the Bulldogs, 5-2.

Nielsen, playing at the number one singles position for the second straight day, picked up Sacramento State's first singles win of the season, defeating her opponent, Fresno State's Denisa Marcinkevia, in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5. Nielsen spent the entirety of the shortened 2020 season at the number two position, but has assumed the top spot for the Hornets early in 2021.  

Joining her in the win column on Saturday was Tsveti Yotova, competing at the number four singles position. Yotova took the first set of her match, 6-4, before dropping the second to her opponent, Ella Husrefovic, 5-7. The pair played to a final 10-8 third set in favor of Yotova. 

"A lot of great fight from Jayden and Tsveti today," said head coach Cami Hubbs after the match. "It was great to come away with those singles wins, but I'm proud of the way we competed overall. A lot of close matches across the board."

Yotova's singles win wasn't her only victory of the afternoon, as the sophomore also contributed to a doubles win with partner Ege Tomey. The pair of Tomey and Yotova defeated Fresno State's pair at the number two doubles spot in convincing fashion, 6-2.

Despite the Hornets' doubles victory, Fresno State opened the afternoon's scoring by clinching the doubles point with a 6-0 victory at the number three doubles position and a hard-fought win at number one. Nielsen and her partner Megan Tagaloa, pushed their opponents at the number one doubles position to the edge, but ultimately came up short, 7-5.

From there, Fresno State claimed four straight singles matches to secure the win before Nielsen and Yotova were victorious in their respective matches.

Sacramento State used the same six singles players on Saturday as it did on Friday against BYU, though switched things up for doubles play. Senior captain Frana Ugarkovic made her 2021 debut at the number three doubles position, paired with Shauna Casey. The full lineup and results from Saturday's match are below. 

The road competitions continue for the Hornets, who are not scheduled to play their home opener until Friday, Feb. 19. Before then are two more road matches. The first of those is a Friday, Feb. 12 contest at Saint Mary's, scheduled for 2 p.m. PT.

More details on all upcoming games, including the team's home opener later this month, can be found online at HornetSports.com.

Tennis Match Results
Sacramento State vs Fresno State
Feb 06, 2021 at Fresno, Calif.
(Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center)

Fresno State 5, Sacramento State 2

Singles competition

1. Jayden Nielsen (SAC) def. MARCINKEVICA, Deniza (FSU) 6-1, 7-5
2. AHMED, Dalia (FSU) def. Ege Tomey (SAC) 6-2, 6-4
3. FLAQUER, Cristina (FSU) def. Megan TAGALOA (SAC) 6-2, 6-0
4. Tsveti Yotova (SAC) def. HUSREFOVIC, Ella (FSU) 6-4, 5-7, 10-8
5. PIFERI, Carolina (FSU) def. Shauna Casey (SAC) 6-3, 6-3
6. NONNIS MARZANO, Carl (FSU) def. Jin Yu (SAC) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. MARCINKEVICA, Deniza/FLAQUER, Cristina (FSU) def. Jayden Nielsen/Megan Tagaloa(SAC) 7-5
2. Ege Tomey/Tsveti Yotova (SAC) def. HUSREFOVIC, Ella/NONNIS MARZANO, Carl (FSU) 6-2
3. AHMED, Dalia/PIFERI, Carolina (FSU) def. Shauna Casey/Frana Ugarkovic (SAC) 6-0

Match Notes:
Sacramento State 0-2
Fresno State 2-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,6,5,2,1,4)
Fresno State Invitational