SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State freshman Mark Keki secured the Hornets' lone point in a 4-1 loss to Saint Mary's in the first round of the Golden State Men's Tennis Invitational on Friday afternoon on campus.
The three-day tournament, co-hosted by Sacramento State and UC Davis, will also see the Hornets play Fresno State on Sunday at noon. The loss dropped the Hornets to 2-6 on the season while Saint Mary's improved to 2-5. The Hornets had just defeated the Gaels on campus by a 4-3 score one week ago.
Keki recorded his win at No. 2 where he beat James Watt by a 6-3, 6-4 score. However, Saint Mary's won the doubles point, and got victories at Nos. 3, 5 and 6 singles to win, 4-1. Matches that did not finish included Hermont Legaspi at No. 1 who was tied at 1-1 in the third set with 23rd-ranked Damon Kesaris. Legaspi just beat Kesaris in straight sets a week ago. Also, Liam Liles at No. 4 did not see his match come finish as Saint Mary's had already secured the necessary four points for victory.
The Hornets started four freshmen in today's singles lineup, including Keki, Liles, Rudolfs Aksenoks (6-3, 6-2 loss at No. 5), and Jan Silva (7-6, 6-3 loss at No. 6). The Hornets' other singles loss came by Michael Vizcarra, 7-5, 6-2 at No. 2.
Saint Mary's 4, Sacramento State 1
Singles competition
1. Legaspi, Hermont (SAC) vs. #23 Damon Kesaris (SMC) 4-6, 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
2. Keki, Mark (SAC) def. James Watt (SMC) 6-3, 6-4
3. Fabian Roensdorf (SMC) def. Vizcarra, Michael (SAC) 7-5, 6-2
4. Liles, Liam (SAC) vs. Karlo Divkovic (SMC) 4-6, 6-6, unfinished
5. Matis Bot (SMC) def. Aksenoks, Rudolfs (SAC) 6-3, 6-2
6. Andy Watterson (SMC) def. Silva, Jan (SAC) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Doubles competition
1. James Watt/Boris Reckow (SMC) def. Keki, Mark/Liles, Liam (SAC) 6-4
2. Damon Kesaris/Fabian Roensdorf (SMC) def. Legaspi, Hermont/Vizcarra, Michael (SAC) 6-2
3. Aksenoks, Rudolfs/Silva, Jan (SAC) vs. Matis Bot/Caelen Potts (SMC) 4-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
Saint Mary's 2-5
Sacramento State 2-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,2,3,6)