MISSOULA, Mont. -- Visiting Sacramento State took the doubles point then made quick work of host Montana in the middle of the singles ladder on Friday morning, clinching the match early and opening Big Sky Conference play with a 6-1 victory over the Grizzlies at the Peak Racquet Club in Missoula, Mont.
The Hornets improved to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in league play, winning four of the six singles competitions in straight sets and winning their third straight in the series with Montana. The Grizzlies fell to 2-6 overall and 0-1 in league with the loss.
Sacramento State's tandem of Emilija Pranyte and Palina Saulevich wwas the first off in doubles following a 6-1 win at the No. 2 spot before freshman Cami Maldonado Gutierrez and Reese Walker clinched the 1-0 lead in the match with a 6-3 win at the No. 3 position. The duo of Maldonado Gutierrez and Walker became the sixth different Hornet pairing to clinch a doubles point win this year.
The morning momentum continued into singles as Sacramento State won three straight in straight sets to officially clinch the victory. Maldonado Gutierrez was the first to claim a point, surrendering only one game in a 6-0, 6-1, win over Shivika Agrawal at No. 4 and was followed by Lou Baudouin at No. 2, who did the same in a 6-1, 6-0, win over Meghna Anand.
Junior Irene Riva then clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-3, win over Monika Fizova at No. 3. It was Riva's second match-clincher of the year and her first since the Saint Mary's match on Jan. 31.
Montana spoiled the shutout bid with a come-from-behind win at No. 1 in three sets as Kelsey Phillips upended Walker, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, but that was it for the Grizzlies. Pranyte defeated Kate Prichard in straight sets at the No. 5 spot, 7-6 (4), 6-3, and Saulevich closed things out with a 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (10-5), win at No. 6.
Sacramento State looks for a 2-0 start in league play on Sunday morning (March 1) at 9 a.m. PT, traveling to Bozeman, Mont., to meet Montana State.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
#50 Sacramento State 6, Montana 1
Feb. 27, 2026 // Missoula, Mont. (Peak Racquet Club)
DOUBLES
1. Lou Baudouin / Irene Riva (SAC) vs. Meghna Anand / Kelsey Phillips (UM), 4-4 unfinished
2. Emilija Pranyte / Palina Saulevich (SAC) def. Paige Bott / Kaylin Kielty (UM), 6-1
3. Cami Maldonado Gutierrez / Reese Walker (SAC) def. Shivika Agrawal / Monika Fizova. (UM), 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3*
SINGLES
1. Kelsey Phillips (UM) def. Reese Walker (SAC), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
2. Lou Baudouin (SAC) def. Meghna Anand (UM), 6-1, 6-0
3. Irene Riva (SAC) def. Monika Fizova (UM), 6-1, 6-3
4. Cami Maldonado Gutierrez (SAC) def. Shivika Agrawal (UM), 6-0, 6-1
5. Emilija Pranyte (SAC) def. Kate Prichard (UM), 7-6 (4), 6-3
6. Palina Saulevich (SAC) def. Paige Bott (UM), 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (10-5)
Order of finish: 4, 2, 3*, 1, 5, 6
