SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Led by freshmen Xavier Barajas-Smith and Anton Stryhas, Sacramento State men’s tennis team continued its four-match homestand by picking up a crucial Big Sky Conference win, defeating Northern Arizona, 5-2, Sunday afternoon at Rio Del Oro Racquet Club.
The Hornets have now won a season-high six matches in a row and 10 out their last 11 as the team improved 10-3 overall and a perfect 6-0 in conference. With a win tomorrow over Montana, the Hornets will clinch the number one seed in the Big Sky Tournament, which Sacramento State will host, April 27-29 at Gold River Racquet Club.
With the loss, NAU fell to 6-11 overall and suffered their first Big Sky loss and their record now stands at 3-1.
Sacramento State opened the day by sweeping the doubles point against the Lumberjacks. At the one, the Hornet tandem of Stryhas and senior Gabriel Loredo defeated Jeff Morys and Michael Platzer, 8-2. Barajas-Smith and junior Hague Van Dillen defeated Chris Arena and Gareth Ducray, 8-2, at the two. At the three, seniors Ramon Perez and Warwick Foy defeated Bradley Bristow and Fernando Freitas, 8-4.
In singles play, Barajas-Smith improved to 10-2 in singles by defeating Ducray at the one, 6-1, 6-1. Stryhas improved his singles record on the year to 11-2 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Platzer at the two. At the three, Loredo also improved to 11-2 with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Freitas. Foy dropped his match in the super tiebreak at the four to Morys, 7-6, 6-7, 10-7. Perez won his match in the super tiebreak over Bristow, 6-2, 5-7, 10-7, at the five. Freshman Tim Lantin dropped a tough three set match at the six to Arena, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
First serve tomorrow against the Grizzlies is set for 1 p.m.
Sacramento State 5
Northern Arizona 2
Rio Del Oro Racquet Club
