SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento State women's tennis team held a lead late in Wednesday's match against visiting Saint Mary's, but the Hornets could not close the door as the Gaels took the final two singles matches of the day in three sets to escape with a 4-3 victory over the Hornets.
The loss snapped Sacramento State's nine-match winning streak, handing the Hornets their first defeat in more than a month dating back to a 4-3 decision against Fresno State on Feb. 3. Falling to 11-4 overall on the season, three of Sacramento State's four defeats have been by 4-3 scores.
With the win, Saint Mary's improved to 7-4 overall.
Wednesday started well for the Hornets as they posted wins at the top two doubles spots to clinch the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead in the match. The duo of Weronika Ejsmont and Best Lee posted a 6-4 win at No. 1, followed shortly by the team of Maddy Ferreros and Irene Riva, who posted a 6-3 win at No. 2.
Straight-set wins by the Gaels at the No. 5 and No. 1 spots in the lineup put Saint Mary's ahead for the first time, but Sacramento State answered quickly with a pair of wins to take a 3-2 lead. Freshman Elena Mercioiu defeated Juliette Daries, 7-5, 6-2, at No. 3, and junior Maddy Ferreros followed with a three-set come-from-behind win at No. 2, outlasting MiaAngelina Ruja, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Needing just one more win to clinch the match, Lee bounced back from a 6-1 loss in her opening set at No. 6 to win the second in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (5), but couldn't complete the comeback, falling in the third to Sofia Daryaie, 6-4, to close it out.
That sent all eyes to the No. 4 court where Riva and Stefanie Silva were locked in a three-set duel of their own, with Riva claiming a 6-1 win in the first before Silva answered with a 6-3 win in the second. Riva jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead in the third before Silva took the next three points to take a 4-3 lead. Riva responded with a win to tie things up at four apiece, but Silva was able to win the final two games to clinch the victory.
Sacramento State, unbeaten in Big Sky Conference play at 2-0, wraps up a busy week by returning to league play on Sunday (March 24) at 11 a.m., hosting Northern Arizona.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Saint Mary's 4, Sacramento State 3
March 20, 2024 // Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento State Tennis Courts)
DOUBLES
1. Weronika Ejsmont / Best Lee (SAC) def. Iman Khan / Olivia Rook (SMC), 6-4
2. Maddy Ferreros / Irene Riva (SAC) def. Tian Yu Dong / Juliette Daries (SMC), 6-3
3. Mayya Gorbanova / Reese Walker (SAC) vs. Sofia Daryaie / Stefanie Silva (SMC), 5-4 unfinished
Order of finish: 1, 2*
SINGLES
1. Iman Khan (SMC) def. Mayya Gorbunova (SAC), 6-3, 6-4
2. Maddy Ferreros (SAC) def. MiaAngelina Ruja (SMC), 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
3. Elena Mercioiu (SAC) def. Juliette Daries (SMC), 7-5, 6-2
4. Stefanie Silva (SMC) def. Irene Riva (SAC), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Olivia Rook (SMC) def. Reese Walker (SAC), 7-5, 6-4
6. Sofia Daryaie (SMC) def. Best Lee (SAC), 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-4
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3, 2, 6, 4*
