SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento State women's tennis team wasted little time in returning to its winning ways on Sunday, rallying back from an early deficit to win five of the six singles matches on the day and defeat Big Sky Conference rival Northern Arizona, 5-2, at home.
The win improved the Hornets to 12-4 overall on the year and kept them unbeaten in conference at 3-0 — the only remaining undefeated squad in Big Sky play this year. The 12 overall victories surpassed last season's total and are the most since the 2012 season when they finished 17-10 overall, 8-0 in Big Sky play, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament against No. 9-ranked California.
Sunday's victory also snapped a four-match losing streak to NAU, winning for the first time since a 4-3 decision at home on March 18, 2019.
The Lumberjacks, who were the runners-up in last year's Big Sky Tournament, fell to 3-9 overall and 0-3 in league play with the loss.
For only the fifth time in 16 matches this season, Sacramento State was forced to play catch-up after dropping the doubles point with losses at the No. 3 and No. 1 spots in the lineup. The duo of Maddy Ferreros and Irene Riva continued their stellar play as a pair this spring, however, claiming a 6-3 victory at the No. 2 spot to improve to 9-1 overall as a duo and win their third straight match together.
Once the scene switched to singles, it was all Hornets from there. Sacramento State quickly claimed straight-set victories at the bottom three spots in the lineup and clinched the overall dual with a win at the No. 3 spot.
Senior Best Lee got things going with a, 6-3, 6-1, win over Laura Duhl to improve to 6-2 on the year, followed by Reese Walker's, 6-4, 6-1, win over Ava Neyestani at the No. 5 spot. Freshman Irene Riva kept the roll going with a, 6-4, 6-2, win over Dolavee Tumthong to improve her team-best record to 13-2, while freshman Lou Baudouin clinched the contest with a three-set, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, win over Ana Karen Guadiana at No. 3, improving to 11-2 overall on the year.
Senior Mayya Gorbunova wrapped up the scoring for the Hornets on the day with a win at No. 1, coming back to defeat Patrycja Niewiadomska, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, to clinch her 10th win at the top spot in the lineup this year.
The Hornets have two duals remaining in their season-long seven-match home stand, welcoming non-conference opponents UC San Diego and Santa Clara to Sacramento State next week. The Hornets host the Tritons on Thursday (March 28) at 1:30 p.m., before taking on the Broncos on Friday (March 29) at 2 p.m.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 5, Northern Arizona 2
March 24, 2024 // Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento State Tennis Courts)
DOUBLES
1. Daryna Shoshyna / Dolavee Tumthong (NAU) def. Weronika Ejsmont / Best Lee (SAC), 6-3
2. Maddy Ferreros / Irene Riva (SAC) def. Patrycja Niewiadomska / Laura Duhl (NAU), 6-3
3. Ana Karen Guadiana / Andrea Noguera (NAU) def. Lou Baudouin / Mayya Gorbunova (SAC), 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1*
SINGLES
1. Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) def. Patrycja Niewiadomska (NAU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. Daryna Shoshyna (NAU) def. Maddy Ferreros (SAC), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Lou Baudouin (SAC) def. Ana Karen Guadiana (NAU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
4. Irene Riva (SAC) def. Dolavee Tumthong (NAU), 6-4, 6-2
5. Reese Walker (SAC) def. Ava Neyestani (NAU), 6-4, 6-1
6. Best Lee (SAC) def. Laura Duhl (NAU), 6-3, 6-1
Order of finish: 6, 5, 4, 2, 3*, 1
