GOLD RIVER, Calif. -- The Sacramento State women's tennis team closed out its five-match homestand with its third consecutive victory on Saturday night, shutting out UC Irvine by a 4-0 score in a dual moved indoors to the Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center in nearby Gold River, Calif., after weather moved in to the area.
The Hornets improved to 5-3 overall on the season, having posted wins over Nevada and Jessup University during their recent winning streak and securing their third shutout victory of the season. The Anteaters fell to 2-4 overall.
Sacramento State jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the match by taking the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches. Weronika Ejsmont and Best Lee posted a 6-4 victory at the top spot, while Maddy Ferreros and Irene Riva followed shortly thereafter with the clincher by a score of 6-3.
It marked the third doubles point win of the year for the Hornets, who also led at the No. 3 spot before play was halted.
Once the scene switched to singles, the Hornets made quick work of UC Irvine with a trio of straight-set victories. Freshman Lou Baudouin continued her torrid start to the season with a 6-2, 6-2, win at No. 3, moving to 8-0 overall on the year with victories at every spot in the lineup except No. 1.
Riva moved to 6-1 overall on the season in singles with her win at No. 5, defeating the Anteaters' Haily Huynh, 6-1, 6-0, for her fifth consecutive triumph, while Lee earned the clinching post with a 6-2, 6-3, win over Carolyna Fowler. The win pushed Lee's single record to 4-1, winning her third straight contest.
Although they were unfinished, Sacramento State also led in two of the final three singles matches with Gorbunova taking the first set, 7-6 (2), against Jenna Schlatter at No. 1, and Reese Walker holding a 7-6, 5-2, lead over Amanda Perez at No. 4.
The Hornets hit the road for their next two matches, taking on a pair of Big West Conference rivals in Southern California. Sacramento State opens against Long Beach State on Saturday (Feb. 24) at 11 a.m., before meeting UC Riverside on Sunday (Feb. 25) at 10 a.m.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 4, UC Irvine 0
Feb. 17, 2024 // Gold River, Calif. (Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center)
DOUBLES
1. Weronika Ejsmont / Best Lee (SAC) def. Carolyna Fowler / Emily Fowler (UCI), 6-4
2. Maddy Ferreros / Irene Riva (SAC) def. Kayla Meraz / Jenna Schlatter (UCI), 6-3
3. Lou Baudouin / Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) vs. Asha Gidwani / Amanda Perez (UCI), 5-3, unfinished
Order of finish: 1, 2
SINGLES
1. Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) vs. Jenna Schlatter (UCI), 7-6 (2), unfinished
2. Weronika Ejsmont (SAC) vs. Kayla Meraz (UCI), 3-6, 1-4, unfinished
3. Lou Baudouin (SAC) def. Asha Gidwani (UCI), 6-2, 6-2
4. Reese Walker (SAC) vs. Amanda Perez (UCI), 7-6, 5-2, unfinished
5. Irene Riva (SAC) def. Haily Huynh (UCI), 6-1, 6-0
6. Best Lee (SAC) def. Carolyna Fowler (UCI), 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 5, 6
