FULLERTON, Calif. -- Sophomore Elena Mercioiu outlasted Cal State Fullerton's Kaytlin Taylor in a second-set tiebreaker at No. 5 singles and Sacramento State kept its unbeaten start to the 2025 season alive by rallying for a 4-3 victory over the host Titans on Sunday morning.
The Hornets added on to what is already the best start in the program's Division I history, improving to 6-0 overall on the year and 4-0 during this recent run of five straight dual matches away from home. Cal State Fullerton fell to 1-3 overall.
With its back against the wall after the Titans claimed singles wins at No. 1 and No. 4, sophomore Lou Baudouin came through to tie the match at three apiece with a 7-6 (3), 6-3, victory over Seha Yu at No. 2. That set the stage for Mercioiu at No. 5 in the last match of the day and sophomore did not disappoint.
Mercioiu opened with a 6-3 win in her first set against Taylor, then had to outlast the Fullerton senior in a tiebreaker to clinch the victory with a 7-6 (5) triumph and avoid a decisive third set.
The Titans opened with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to take an early 1-0 lead in the contest. Baudouin and Maddy Ferreros picked up the win at No. 2 doubles with a 6-2 victory.
Switching to singles, Sacramento State took its first lead of the day with wins at No. 3 and No. 6 to go up 2-1. Sophomore Reese Walker was the first off for the Hornets, defeating Mariia Nikitash, 6-2, 6-3, followed by junior Palina Saulevich, who eked out a wild straight-set win over Milena Gevorgyan, taking the first set 6-1 and winning the second 7-6 with a roller coaster 14-12 tiebreaker.
Mercioiu earned her second match clinching victory of the season, joining Baudouin and Ferreros with two apiece.
The Hornets wrap-up their run of five straight road matches next Saturday (Feb. 22) at 11 a.m., traveling to Bay Area rival Santa Clara.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 4, Cal State Fullerton 3
Feb. 16, 2025 // Fullerton, Calif. (Titan Tennis Courts)
DOUBLES
1. Milena Gevorgyan / Sein Myoung (CSF) def. Emilija Pranyte / Palina Saulevich (SAC), 6-1
2. Lou Baudouin / Maddy Ferreros (SAC) def. Diana Yanotovskaya / Mariia Nikitash (CSF), 6-2
3. Kaytlin Taylor / Seha Yu (CSF) def. Weronika Ejsmont / Reese Walker (SAC), 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*
SINGLES
1. Sein Myoung (CSF) def. Maddy Ferreros (SAC), 1-6, 6-1, 6-1
2. Lou Baudouin (SAC) def. Seha Yu (CSF), 7-6 (3), 6-3
3. Reese Walker (SAC) def. Mariia Nikitash (CSF), 6-2, 6-3
4. Diana Yanotovskaya (CSF) def. Emilija Pranyte (SAC), 6-4, 7-6 (8)
5. Elena Mercioiu (SAC) def. Kaytlin Taylor (CSF), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
6. Palina Saulevich (SAC) def. Milena Gevorgyan (CSF), 6-1, 7-6 (12)
Order of finish: 3, 6, 1, 4, 2, 5*
