LEWISTON, Idaho -- The Sacramento State women's tennis team closed out its Pacific Northwest road trip with its second consecutive victory, defeating host Idaho by a 6-1 score on Sunday morning at the LCSC Tennis Courts in Lewiston, Idaho.
The Hornets improved to 16-6 overall and 5-2 in Big Sky Conference play, keeping alive their hopes for a share of the league's regular season title. The Vandals, who suffered only their second loss at home this year, fell to 10-7 overall and 4-3 in conference with the loss.
Clinching the doubles point for the third consecutive dual, Sacramento State jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the match. The duo of Maddy Ferreros and Irene Riva were the first on the board with a 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot before Lou Baudouin and Mayya Gorbunova clinched the point by breaking a 1-1 tie with a 6-1 win at No. 3.
Ferreros and Riva improved to 13-2 overall as a tandem — all at the No. 2 spot — while Baudouin and Gorbunova won their fourth straight match together, improving to 8-1 on the season and 6-1 in league play.
The Hornets then rolled through the top half of the singles lineup to officially clinch the dual, winning all three contests in straight sets. Baudouin's, 6-2, 6-4, win over Ida Johansson made it 2-0, while Ferreros posted a 6-2, 7-5, win over Valentina Rodas to make it 3-0. Gorbunova then clinched the contest with her, 6-3, 7-5, win over Diana Khaydarshina at the top spot.
Sacramento State wasn't done, however, as freshman Elene Mercioiu outlasted Lena Beckx at No. 4 in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, for her sixth win of the season, and Best Lee capped the scoring with a 6-4, 7-6 (3), victory at the No. 6 spot.
A run of five straight duals on the road comes to an end against Causeway rival UC Davis on Friday (April 19) at 1 p.m., before the Hornets wrap up the regular season with their Big Sky Conference finale at home with a "Senior Day" dual against Portland State on Saturday (April 20) at 11 a.m.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 6, Idaho 1
April 14, 2024 // Lewiston, Idaho (LCSC Tennis Courts)
DOUBLES
1. Valentina Rodas / Naomi Schraeder (UI) def. Weronika Ejsmont / Best Lee (SAC), 6-2
2. Maddy Ferreros / Irene Riva (SAC) def. Saffron Dowse / Ida Johansson (UI), 6-3
3. Lou Baudouin / Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) def. Lena Beckx / Rachelle Starreveld (UI), 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2*
SINGLES
1. Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) def. Diana Khaydarshina (UI), 6-3, 7-5
2. Maddy Ferreros (SAC) def. Valentina Rodas (UI), 6-2, 7-5
3. Lou Baudouin (SAC) def. Ida Johansson (UI), 6-2, 6-4
4. Elena Mercioiu (SAC) def. Lena Beckx (UI), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
5. Naomi Schraeder (UI) def. Irene Riva (SAC), 6-4, 6-4
6. Best Lee (SAC) def. Rachelle Starreveld (UI), 6-4, 7-6 (3)
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1*, 4, 5, 6
