SACRAMENTO -- Not even the start of Big Sky Conference play could slow the Sacramento State women's tennis team, which rallied back from an early deficit to win their eighth consecutive dual and defeat visiting Weber State by a 4-3 score on Saturday afternoon at the Sacramento State Tennis Courts on campus.
The win pushed the Hornets to 10-3 overall and 1-0 in league play, clinching their league opener for the second straight season. Sacramento State's winning streak is the longest since winning eight straight from March 24-April 22, 2012, while the 10 wins are just one shy of last season's total (11-11 overall) with 11 scheduled matches remaining in the regular season.
The 10-3 start is also the best since the 2008 squad opened 11-2 through its first 13 duals to start the year en route to a 21-7 overall record, and 8-0 Big Sky mark, and an NCAA Tournament berth.
For only the second time during their eight-game winning streak, the Hornets dropped the doubles point. The tandem of Lou Baudouin and Mayya Gorbunova got the Hornets on the board first with a 6-1 win at No. 3, before the Wildcats answered with a win at No. 2 to tie things up. The point hinged on the match at No. 1, which fell in favor of Weber State in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (4).
That meant Sacramento State would have to roll through singles if it were to extend its winning streak and the Hornets did not disappoint.
Freshman Reese Walker was the first off the court with a straight-set, 6-2, 6-2, win at No. 6 and Sacramento State took the lead for good with a win by Gorbunova at No. 1, 6-3, 6-0. Freshman Elena Mercioiu won her match at No. 4, 6-4, 6-1, and freshman Irene Riva came through with another clinching victory, winning at the No. 5 spot, 7-6, 6-2.
Weber State won in straight sets at No. 3 and outlasted the Hornets for a three-set win at No. 2 for the final two points.
Riva won her 10th consecutive singles contest while improving to 11-1 overall on the year, while Gorbunova extended her winning streak to six and moved to 8-1 overall on the year at the No. 1 spot in the lineup. Walker's win was her fifth of the year, while Mercioiu won for the second time.
Two matches in to their season-long seven-match homestand, Sacramento State will be busy next week, hosting three matches on campus. The Hornets welcome Idaho State on Tuesday (March 19) at Noon and then host Saint Mary's on Wednesday (March 20) at 2 p.m. in a match that was rescheduled due to weather. Sacramento State then hosts Northern Arizona on Sunday (March 24) at 11 a.m.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 4, Weber State 3
March 16, 2024 // Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento State Tennis Courts)
DOUBLES
1. Davies, Megan/Morett, Ana (WSU) def. Weronika Ejsmont / Best Lee (SAC), 7-6 (7-4)
2. Ferreira, Sicely/Lolofie, Dylan (WSU) def. Maddy Ferreros / Irene Riva (SAC), 6-2
3. Lou Baudouin / Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) def. Hill, Jessica/Semenik, Kenadee (WSU), 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1*
SINGLES
1. Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) def. Davies, Megan (WSU), 6-3, 6-0
2. Morett, Ana (WSU) def. Maddy Ferreros (SAC), 6-1, 5-7, 7-5
3. Lolofie, Dylan (WSU) def. Lou Baudouin (SAC), 7-5, 6-2
4. Elena Mercioiu (SAC) def. Ferreira, Sicely (WSU), 6-4, 6-1
5. Irene Riva (SAC) def. Schnell, Sydney (WSU), 7-6, 6-2
6. Reese Walker (SAC) def. Ping An, Cindy (WSU), 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 6, 1, 4, 5*, 3, 2
