POCATELLO, Idaho -- Irene Riva's straight set win at the No. 6 spot in the singles lineup gave the visiting Hornets the clinching point and Sacramento State extended its winning streak to seven consecutive dual matches with a 5-2 win over host Idaho State on Sunday afternoon in Pocatello, Idaho.
While the team's shutout streak ended at five, the Hornets still had enough to extend their winning streak and improve to 14-2 on the year, 5-0 in Big Sky Conference play. With the loss, the Bengals fell to 9-10 overall and 2-4 in league.
Riva remained undefeated on the season, improving to 9-0 with her 6-1, 6-0, victory over Olivia Mikkelson, posting her first match-clinching point of the season after Idaho State had clawed back to within a point at 3-2 with singles victories at No. 3 and No. 4.
After winning doubles matches at No. 3 and No. 2 to take a 1-0 lead in the match, the Hornets jumped out to a 2-0 advantage with Reese Walker making quick work of Stefanya Shalakhova, 6-0, 6-2, at the No. 2 spot. Idaho State won at No. 3 to break up Sacramento State's shutout streak, but senior Maddy Ferreros put the Hornets a point closer with her come-from-behind, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, win at No. 1 against Asem Shoybak for her sixth consecutive victory.
The Bengals then won at No. 4 to set the stage for Riva's victory, and sophomore Elena Mercioiu closed out the day with a, 2-6, 6-0, 1-0 (10-5) win at No. 5 for the fifth and final Hornet point, extending her own singles winning streak to seven straight.
Riva became the seventh different Sacramento State player with a match-clinching point this year while Lou Baudouin and Emilija Pranyte finished with their third doubles point clincher of the season, improving to 8-2 as a pairing this year — including 5-0 at the No. 2 spot and their sixth consecutive victory as a duo.
The Hornets return home for a showdown with Long Beach State on Wednesday (April 2) at 1 p.m., before hitting the road for a pair of key Big Sky matches that could decide the conference's regular season champion. Sacramento State hits the road to take on Northern Arizona — which is 6-0 in league play — on Saturday (April 5) at 10 a.m., before traveling to Portland State on Monday (April 7) for a 10 a.m. start.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sacramento State 5, Idaho State 2
March 30, 2025 // Pocatello, Idaho (Reed Gym)
DOUBLES
1. Maddy Ferreros / Irene Riva (SAC) vs. Stefanya Shalakhova / Asem Shoybek (ISU), 5-4 unfinished
2. Lou Baudouin / Emilija Pranyte (SAC) def. Olivia Mikkelson / Veronika Zarovna (ISU), 6-3
3. Palina Saulevich / Reese Walker (SAC) def. Millie Day / Victoria Grymalska (ISU), 6-0
Order of finish: 3, 2*
SINGLES
1. Maddy Ferreros (SAC) def. Asem Shoybek (ISU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Reese Walker (SAC) def. Stefanya Shalakhova (ISU), 6-0, 6-2
3. Millie Day (ISU) def. Lou Baudouin (SAC), 6-4, 7-5
4. Sydney Morris (ISU) def. Emilija Pranyte (SAC), 0-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Elena Mercioiu (SAC) def. Victoria Grymalska (ISU), 2-6, 6-0, 1-0 (10-5)
6. Irene Riva (SAC) def. Olivia Mikkelson (ISU), 6-1, 6-0
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1, 4, 6*, 5
