MORAGA, Calif. -- For the second consecutive week, senior Maddy Ferreros came through in the clutch for the Sacramento State women's tennis team, bouncing back after splitting the first two sets for a win in the third to clinch a 4-2 Hornet victory over host Saint Mary's on Saturday afternoon at the Timothy Korth Tennis Complex in Moraga, Calif.

The victory was the fourth straight win for the Hornets, who improved to 4-0 overall on the year to continue their best start since 2008. Sunday's victory was the first over the Gaels since 2011 — a 4-3 win at home — and the first win in Moraga since a 6-0 triumph  on April 2, 1992. Saint Mary's fell to 2-2 with the loss.

Ferreros, who clinched her team's 4-3 win at Fresno State last week with a three-set win at No. 1, duplicated the feat on Sunday at the top spot in the lineup against Iman Khan. The two split the first two sets of the day, each in a tiebreaker. Ferreros outlasted Khan with a 7-5 win in the tiebreaker in the first set before Khan answered with an 8-6 win in the second-set tiebreaker. Now down to the third set, Ferreros took control, winning three of the first four games, then winning the last three en route to a 6-2 victory and the clinching point.

Sacramento State jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the match by clinching the doubles point for the third time in four matches. Freshman Emilija Pranyte and junior Palina Saulevich posted a 6-3 win at No. 1, then watched as senior Weronika Ejsmont and sophomore Elena Mercioiu needed a tiebreaker at No. 3 to take home a 7-6 (6) victory at No. 3.

Mercioiu quickly made it a 2-0 lead with a straight-set, 6-4, 6-2, win over Tiana Fox at No. 4, but Saint Mary's tied things up with straight-set victories wins at No. 5 and No. 2 to tie things up. Pranyte improved to 2-1 in three-set matches this season with a win at No. 3, putting the Hornets on the brink of victory with a 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (5), win over Juliette Daries, setting the stage for Ferreros' dramatics at the top spot.

At No. 6, Ejsmont was locked in her own battle with the Gaels' Madison Weekley when the match was clinched as the two split a pair of 7-6 decisions in the first two sets. Weekley won the first, 8-6, in the tiebreak before Ejsmont stayed alive with a 7-5 win in the second-set tiebreak.

The Hornets continue a run of five straight matches on the road with a trip to Southern California next week. Sacramento State takes on Loyola Marymount on Saturday (Feb. 15) before facing off against Cal State Fullerton on Sunday (Feb. 16). Both matches are scheduled for 10 a.m. at their respective sites.

NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 4, Saint Mary's 2
Feb. 9, 2025 // Moraga, Calif. (Timothy Korth Tennis Complex)

DOUBLES
1. Emilija Pranyte / Palina Saulevich (SAC) def. Iman Khan / Tiana Fox (SMC), 6-3
2. Olivia Rook / Madison Weekley (SMC) def. Lou Baudouin / Maddy Ferreros (SAC), 7-5
3. Weronika Ejsmont / Elena Mercioiu (SAC) def. Juliette Daries / Stefanie Silva (SMC), 7-6 (6)

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*

SINGLES
1. Maddy Ferreros (SAC) def. Iman Khan (SMC), 7-6 (5), 6-7 (6), 6-2
2. Olivia Rook (SMC) def. Lou Baudouin (SAC), 7-5, 6-2
3. Emilija Pranyte (SAC) def. Juliette Daries (SMC), 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (5)
4. Elena Mercioiu (SAC) def. Tiana Fox (SMC), 6-4, 6-2
5. Stefanie Silva (SMC) def. Palina Saulevich (SAC), 6-3, 6-0
6. Weronika Ejsmont (SAC) vs. Madison Weekley (SMC), unfinished (6-7 [6], 7-6 [5])

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