SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento State women's tennis team eased through doubles and then won the first three singles matches of the night in straight sets, defeating visiting Santa Clara by a 4-0 score on Monday night at the Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center in Gold River, Calif.
The Hornets closed out their homestand with three consecutive victories thanks to Saturday night's victory, improving to 14-4 overall on the season while posting their second consecutive shutout. The Broncos, meanwhile, fell to 4-10 overall with the defeat.
Having to wait an extra day to go head-to-head after rain popped up in the forecast, Sacramento State quickly took a 1-0 lead in the match with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles positions by identical 6-3 scores. The duo of Maddy Ferreros and Irene Riva continued to roll through the opposition, improving to 11-1 overall as a tandem and winning for the fifth straight dual.
Meanwhile, the freshman pairing of Lou Baudouin and Reese Walker won for the first time as a doubles team to clinch the doubles point.
Baudouin wasted little time in giving the Hornets a 2-0 lead with her straight-set win at No. 2 singles, easily dispatching Finley Kalinic, 6-1, 6-2. Senior Best Lee netted the third point of the night with a, 6-4, 6-3, victory over Kacey Fang, and Walker clinched the match with a 7-5, 6-3, win over Varya Zlotnik.
With her win, Baudouin improved to 13-2 overall and 3-0 at the No. 2 spot in the lineup, matching Riva for the team lead in singles victories. Lee improved to 7-2 overall in singles, winning her second straight, while Walker won her eighth singles dual of the year and remained unbeat in league at 3-0.
Riva was up a set in her match at No. 4 when Sacramento State produced the clinching point, while Ferreros and freshman Elena Mercioiu had each split their first two sets at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots, respectively.
The meat of the Hornets Big Sky Conference schedule now awaits as five of their final six duals will be against league opponents — including each of the next four on the road. Sacramento State travels to Montana and Montana State for a pair of morning matches next weekend on April 5 and April 7, respectively, looking to improve upon its unblemished 3-0 conference record.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 4, Santa Clara 0
March 30, 2024 // Gold River, Calif. (Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center)
DOUBLES
1. Weronika Ejsmont / Best Lee (SAC) vs. Jenna Gordon / Velizara Fileva (SCU), 5-3 unfinished
2. Maddy Ferreros / Irene Riva (SAC) def Finley Kalinic / Varya Zlotnik (SCU), 6-3
3. Lou Baudouin / Reese Walker (SAC) def. Kacey Feng / Gabriela Tevez (SCU), 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3*
SINGLES
1. Maddy Ferreros (SAC) vs. Jenna Gordon (SCU), 3-6, 6-2, 2-3 unfinished
2. Lou Baudouin (SAC) def. Finley Kalinic (SCU), 6-1, 6-2
3. Elena Mercioiu (SAC) vs. Velizara Fileva (SCU), 6-3, 4-6, unfinished
4. Irene Riva (SAC) vs. Gabriela Tevez (SCU), 6-4, 4-4 unfinished
5. Reese Walker (SAC) def. Varya Zlotnik (SCU), 7-5, 6-3
6. Best Lee (SAC) def. Kacey Feng (SCU), 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 6, 5*
