LEWISTON, Idaho -- Sacramento State received singles wins from
Mark Keki,
Mate Voros,
Jan Silva,
Adam Chodur and
Rudolfs Aksenoks, and the Hornets picked up a road victory at Idaho, 6-1, on Friday evening.
The win is the sixth straight for the Hornets, who improved to 14-5 overall, 6-1 in the Big Sky Conference, and 5-4 on the road. Sacramento State has defeated five straight Big Sky opponents, and will clinch at least a share of the Big Sky regular season championship with a win Sunday at Eastern Washington.
That match at EWU is the Hornets' Big Sky finale. A victory would give the Hornets a 7-1 conference record, and only Northern Arizona (5-1) could finish with the same record. Should the Hornets win Sunday, it would be the program's first Big Sky title since 2013.
Today's victory came against an Idaho team that has won each of the last two Big Sky Tournament championships. In addition, Sacramento State has yet to lose on the road to a conference opponent (3-0). The team's 14 wins are the most since the 2013 squad finished with a 17-13 record.
The Hornets opened today's match by winning the doubles point as the No. 1 tandem of Keki/Voros, and No. 2 Chodur/
Hayden Rand were both victorious. For Keki/Voros, it marked the duo's ninth consecutive doubles victory.
Sacramento State then picked up straight set singles wins from Keki (No. 1) and Voros (No. 2), as well as three-set victories from Silva (No. 3), Chodur (No. 4) and Aksenoks (No. 5).
The Hornets continue to add to long singles winning streaks, as both Keki and Aksenoks have now won nine straight. Silva won his sixth straight, and Voros improved his winning streak to five straight.
"Mikus (Losbergs) and I have really noticed the increased intensity in practices, and that has translated to success in matches," Sacramento State head coach
Kevin Kurtz said. "The team fought hard, stay focused, and showed a ton of effort winning a lot of scramble points tonight."
Sacramento State will play its Big Sky finale on Sunday at Eastern Washington. Match time is 10 a.m.
