FRESNO, Calif. -- The Sacramento State women's tennis team rallied back from dropping the doubles point for the first time this year to take home four wins in singles on Sunday afternoon, lifting the Hornets to a 4-3 victory over host Fresno State at the Wathen Tennis Center in Fresno, Calif.

In a match that began 45 minutes late due to wet conditions on the courts, Sacramento State had enough to outlast the Bulldogs and remain undefeated on the season at 3-0 overall, continuing its best start since opening the 2008 campaign with a 4-0 record. Sunday's victory snapped a 10-match losing streak to Fresno State dating back to a 4-3 win over the Bulldogs in 2012 and the first win in Fresno since a 5-2 triumph in 2011.

Fresno State, which had opened the spring with three straight victories, suffered its first defeat of the season in falling to 3-1 overall.

The Bulldogs made quick work of doubles, winning at No. 1 and No. 3 by the scores of 6-1 and 6-2, respectively, to take an early lead in the match before the Hornets exploded in singles to take their first lead of the day. Limited to just three courts due to the conditions, Sacramento State posted wins at No. 5, No. 6, and No. 4, to take a 3-1 lead and put Fresno State on the brink.

Sophomore Elena Mercioiu was the first one off, taking a straight-set 6-4, 6-2, win over Paulina Montiel, before junior Palina Saulevich and freshman Emilija Pranyte each won in three sets. Saulevich outlasted Eliza Dunbar at No. 6 by the score of 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, while Pranyte won at No. 4 over Andjela Lopicic, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4.

The Bulldogs answered back to tie the match with a three-set win at No. 2 and a straight-set victory at No. 3 to tie the contest at three apiece, putting the contest in the hands of senior Maddy Ferreros at the No. 1 spot, who split the first two sets with Matilde Magrini, 6-4 and 6-2, before pulling out a 7-5 victory in the third to clinch the contest.

Mercioiu and Saulevich each improved to 3-0 on the year in singles with their wins on Sunday, while Ferreros improved to 2-0 at the top spot in the lineup. Ferreros became the third different Hornet to claim the match-clinching point this season, while Saulevich improved to a team-best 2-0 in three-set contests this year.

Sacramento State is scheduled to return to the court on Friday (Feb. 7) at Noon, traveling to Moraga, Calif., to take on Saint Mary's in the second dual of a five-match run on the road.

NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 4, Fresno State 3
Feb. 2, 2025 // Fresno, Calif. (Wathen Tennis Center)

DOUBLES
1. Yinglak Jittakoat / Matilde Magrini (FS) def. Weronika Ejsmont / Palina Saulevich (SAC), 6-1
2. Lou Baudouin / Emilija Pranyte (SAC) vs. Andjela Lopicic / Klara Vukicevic (FS), unfinished (5-2)
3. Eliza Dunbar / Paulina Montiel (FS) def. Maddy Ferreros / Reese Walker (SAC), 6-2

Order of finish: 1, 3*

SINGLES
1. Maddy Ferreros (SAC) def. Matilde Magrini (FS), 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
2. Sofia Pizzoni (FS) def. Reese Walker (SAC), 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
3. Yinglak Jittakoat (FS) def. Lou Baudouin (SAC), 6-3, 6-1
4. Emilija Pranyte (SAC) def. Andjela Lopicic (FS), 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4
5. Elena Mercioiu (SAC) def. Paulina Montiel (FS), 6-4, 6-2
6. Palina Saulevich (SAC) def. Eliza Dunbar (FS), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1

Order of finish: 5, 6, 4, 2, 3, 1*