The Hornets won for the fourth time in their last five matches while improving to 9-6 overall and 5-1 in the Big Sky. Today marked the final Big Sky regular-season match of the season for Sacramento State as the team will play seven more non-conference matches before Big Sky Tournament play begins on April 27. The winner of the Big Sky Tournament receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, a place the Hornets have been four times in the last seven years.

With the loss, Montana dropped to 4-9 overall and 1-2 in the Big Sky. The Hornets’ only loss to a Big Sky team this season came yesterday to Montana State.

After being awarded the doubles point by virtue of winning two of the three doubles matches, Sacramento State had to fight hard for the majority of its singles victories. In fact, of the Hornets’ five wins in singles play, four came in three sets.

Sacramento State junior Gabriel Loredo won at No. 2 over Stuart Wing, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, junior Warwick Foy defeated Colin Dektar at No. 3 (1-6, 6-4, 6-3), senior Thomas Morton knocked off Felipe Raw at No. 4 (7-6, 1-6, 7-5) and junior Ramon Perez defeated Brady Tommerup at No. 5 (6-7, 6-3, 10-8). Sophomore Hague Van Dillen was the only Hornet to win in straight sets, beating Josh Katz at No. 6 by the score of 7-5, 6-2. Sacramento State’s No. 1 singles player (Junaid Hossain) fell to Jan Steenekamp, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The Hornets will return to action on Thursday, April 6 as the team travels to San Francisco for a match beginning at 2 p.m.

Sacramento State 6, Montana 1

SINGLES

1. Jan Steenekamp (UM) def. Junaid Hossain (SAC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

2. Gabriel Loredo (SAC) def. Stuart Wing (UM) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3

3. Warwick Foy (SAC) def. Colin Dektar (UM) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3

4. Thomas Morton (SAC) def. Felipe Raw (UM) 7-6 (7-6), 1-6, 7-5

5. Ramon Perez (SAC) def. Brady Tommerup (UM) 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-8)

6. Hague Van Dillen (SAC) def. Josh Katz (UM) 7-5, 6-2

DOUBLES

1. Junaid Hossain/Gabriel Loredo (SAC) def. Colin Dektar/Brady Tommerup (UM) 8-6

2. Stuart Wing/Felipe Raw (UM) def. Warwick Foy/Ramon Perez (SAC) 8-4

3. Hague Van Dillen/Paul Komorniczak (SAC) def. Jan Steenekamp/Tim Neidhardt (UM) 8-3