LA JOLLA, Calif. -- With the score tied at 3-3, senior Jiri Novak came through with a three-set victory to help lead Sacramento State to a 4-3 road win at UC San Diego on Thursday afternoon.

Sacramento State, which overcame a 3-2 deficit and never led until Novak's match clincher, was playing its first match of the spring season. The Hornets, on a Southern California swing to begin the year, will play at San Diego State on Sunday.

Trailing, 3-2, Sacramento State picked up a straight set win from Mate Voros (6-4, 6-2) at No. 3 to tie things at 3-3. Novak, who was playing at No. 5, posted the match-clinching win in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-4) over Charles Qian. The match point took over a minute to conclude as both players were locked in a long rally, and proved to be the lone three setter of the contest.

The Hornets opened things by dropping the doubles point. Novak and teammate Jan Silva won their match at No. 2 (6-3), but UC San Diego won at Nos. 1 and 3. Sacramento State would get singles wins from Mark Keki at No. 1 (6-1, 6-2) to tie the score at 1-1, and later at No. 4 from Adam Chodur (7-6, 6-1) to tie things at 2-2. UC San Diego claimed a win at No. 6 to take a 3-2 lead, setting the stage for Voros and Novak to complete the comeback.

True freshman Michael Kaplan made his Hornet debut, falling at No. 6 in a very close match (6-4, 7-6). Of the Hornets' six singles players, only Chodur (sophomore) and Kaplan (freshman) were not seniors.

Sacramento State's match at San Diego State on Sunday will begin at 3 p.m. The Hornets' home opener is next Friday, Jan. 26, at 1 p.m.

Sacramento State 4, UC San Diego 3

Singles competition
1. Keki, Mark (SAC) def. Phillip Lan (UCSD) 6-1, 6-2
2. Carson Lee (UCSD) def. Silva, Jan (SAC) 7-6, 6-2
3. Voros, Mate (SAC) def. Diogo Tinoco (UCSD) 6-4, 6-2
4. Chodur, Adam (SAC) def. Pelayo Rodriguez (UCSD) 7-6, 6-1
5. Novak, Jiri (SAC) def. Charles Qian (UCSD) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
6. Zach Pellouchoud (UCSD) def. Kaplan, Michael (SAC) 6-4, 7-6

Doubles competition
1. Pelayo Rodriguez/Zach Pellouchoud (UCSD) def. Keki, Mark/Voros, Mate (SAC) 6-3
2. Silva, Jan/Novak, Jiri (SAC) def. Phillip Lan/Diogo Tinoco (UCSD) 6-3
3. William Lan/Carson Lee (UCSD) def. Chodur, Adam/Rand, Hayden (SAC) 6-2

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