SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento State women's tennis team closed out their weekend trip to Southern California by claiming its fifth consecutive victory, defeating host UC Riverside by a 5-2 score on Sunday afternoon at the SRC Tennis Courts in Riverside, Calif.

The Hornets improved to 7-3 overall on the year, posting their longest winning streak since Sacramento State won the same number from March 18-29, 2019. It extends the team's best start since 2012, when that year's Hornet squad also opened with the same record.

The Highlanders fell to 1-10 overall with the loss.

For the second consecutive contest, the Hornets swept all three doubles matches to take the early 1-0 lead in the match. Maddy Ferreros  and Irene Riva took home first contest with a 6-1 win at No. 2 and Weronika Ejsmont and Best Lee officially clinched the point with a 6-2 win at No. 1. The sweep was finished off by the tandem of Mayya Gorbunova and Reese Walker at No. 3 by the score of 6-3.

Switching to singles, the home team quickly evened the score with a straight set win at No. 4, but the Hornets rattled off three straight victories to clinch the match. 

Lee opened the run with a straight-set, 6-2, 6-1, win at the No. 6 spot over Sydney Tran, followed by Gorbunova's win at the top spot, 6-2, 6-0, over Brionna Nguyen. For the second straight day, Riva had the clincher, dispatching Niki Shahbazi, 6-3, 6-2. After a win at No. 3 by the Highlanders, junior Maddy Ferreros closed out the contest with a 3-6, 7-5, 10-8, win at No. 2 for the final score.

Riva's win was her seventh straight, Lee took home her fourth consecutive win, while Gorbunova and Ferreros won for the third straight match. Ferreros and Riva won their fourth consecutive doubles match as a tandem, while Ejsmont and Lee improved to 3-1 at the top spot in doubles, winning their third straight.

The Hornets return home on Thursday (Feb. 29) to host Saint Mary's at 1:30 p.m. at the Sacramento State Tennis Courts on campus.

NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 5, UC Riverside 2
Feb. 25, 2024 // Riverside, Calif. (SRC Tennis Courts)

DOUBLES
1. Weronika Ejsmont / Best Lee (SAC) def. Kamya Nair / Brionna Nguyen (UCR), 6-2
2. Maddy Ferreros / Irene Riva (SAC) def. Crystal Kim / Maya Youssef (UCR), 6-1
3. Mayya Gorbunova / Reese Walker (SAC) def. Niki Shahbazi / Sydney Tran (UCR), 6-3

Order of finish: 2, 1*, 3

SINGLES
1. Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) def. Brionna Nguyen (UCR), 6-2, 6-0
2. Maddy Ferreros (SAC) def. Maya Youssef (UCR), 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)
3. Crystal Kim (UCR) def. Weronika Ejsmont (SAC), 6-4, 6-2
4. Kamya Nair (UCR) def. Reese Walker (SAC), 6-3, 6-1
5. Irene Riva (SAC) def. Niki Shahbazi (UCR), 6-3, 6-2
6. Best Lee (SAC) def. Sydney Tran (UCR), 6-2, 6-1

Order of finish: 4, 6, 1, 5*, 3, 2