PHOENIX -- In a contest that could have gone either way, and featured four of the six singles matches going three sets, Sacramento State fell to Idaho, 4-3, in the Big Sky Tournament semifinals Friday morning at the Phoenix Tennis Center.

The Hornets were the No. 2 seed and received a first round bye at the three-day, single-elimination tournament. They were playing an Idaho team that was the No. 3 seed and defeated No. 6 Montana in yesterday's quarterfinal round.

Much like the teams' meeting in the regular season (a 5-2 Hornet win at home), the match was very close. After winning the doubles point, Sacramento State secured just two of the six singles victories, allowing Idaho to advance to tomorrow's championship match against No. 1 seed Northern Arizona.

The Hornets' season comes to an end - a successful campaign that included a 12-7 overall record, 5-2 in the Big Sky, 9-1 at home, and the team's first Big Sky Tourney semifinal appearance since 2017. Idaho improved its record 14-8.

Things looked good early, as Sacramento State picked up the doubles point, securing wins from Mark Keki/Mate Voros (6-3 at No. 1), and Jan Silva/Ori Maior (7-6 at No. 3).

However, Idaho won the first two singles matches at Nos. 3 and 5 to take a 2-1 lead. Sacramento State responded with wins from Rudolfs Aksenoks at No. 6 (6-1, 4-6, 6-4) and Jan Silva at No. 4 (4-6, 6-3, 7-5) to retake the lead at 3-2.

The only matches left to play were Keki at No. 1, and Voros at No. 2. Both played extremely tight matches that finished with 7-5 third set scores. Unfortunately for the Hornets, Keki and Voros were on the losing end of both outcomes. Keki fell, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 and Voros dropped his match, 6-1, 6-7 (1), 7-5.

Keki and Voros were big contributors to this season's success as Keki was 11-3 in singles play, and 6-1 against conference opposition. Voros was 10-5, and 6-2 vs league competition. Keki/Voros were also 10-3 in doubles play (4-1 vs league). Both will likely be named all-Big Sky next week when selections are made.

Silva won his ninth singles match (9-4) of the season, as did Aksenoks (9-7).

"Both Mikus (Losbergs) and I are very proud of this team and what they accomplished this season," Sacramento State head coach Kevin Kurtz said. "Everyone gave 100 percent effort all year and left everything on the court. We will be back next season."

HORNETS IN 2023
• 12-7 overall record (.632) is the team's best winning percentage since 2009 (19-7, .731)
• 5-2 Big Sky record (.714) is the best conference winning percentage since 2017 (8-3, .727)
• No. 2 seed at the Big Sky Tournament is highest since 2013
• First Big Sky Tournament semifinal appearance since 2017
• 9-1 home record is the best mark since 2012
• Won first nine home matches of a season since 2010
• Two winning streaks of at least four matches long
• Hornets won the doubles point in 13 of 19 matches