MEN’S TENNIS CLINCHES BIG SKY REGULAR SEASON TITLE OUTRIGHT WITH WIN OVER PORTLAND STATE

4/12/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento State received straight set singles victories from Anton Stryhas, Kiryl Harbatsiuk, Artur Klimenka, Holden Ching and Sven-David Rueff to defeat Portland State, 6-1, in a Big Sky Conference men’s tennis match Saturday afternoon at Rio Del Oro Racquet Club.

With the victory, Sacramento State (14-7, 8-0) clinched its third straight Big Sky regular-season title (co-championship in 2006). The Hornets, who have won nine straight matches, own the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye at the Big Sky Tournament later this month (April 25-27) at the Gold River Racquet Club.

The winner of the Big Sky Tournament receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, a place the Hornets have been five times since 1999 (including last season).

Portland State dropped to 5-13 overall and 1-6 in the Big Sky with the loss.

"We're very excited about winning the regular season championship, but our ultimate goal is to win the Big Sky Tournament title and advance to the NCAA Championships," Sacramento State assistant coach Kevin Kurtz said. "We will work hard in practice the next couple weeks in preparation for the Big Sky Tournament."

Stryhas (6-2, 6-1 at No. 1), Harbatsiuk (6-2, 6-0 at No. 2), Klimenka (6-2, 6-3 at No. 3), Ching (6-3, 6-2 at No. 4) and Rueff (6-3, 6-3 at No. 5) all won their singles matches with relative ease.

The Hornets’ doubles tandems of Stryhas/Harbatsiuk (8-1), Rueff/Klimenka (8-2) and Ching/Conlon (8-2) each won their doubles matches.

Sacramento State has now won 17 straight matches against Big Sky competition (including playoffs) dating back to last season.

The dominance of Stryhas continued today as the sophomore has now won 18 consecutive singles matches and is 20-1 this season, including 9-0 at No. 1, 10-1 at No. 2, and 1-0 at No. 3. During the winning streak, 15 of those victories have come in straight sets, and his only loss of the season came in three sets.

Other Hornets to extend winning streaks today were Klimenka (nine straight singles victories) and Rueff (10 consecutive singles victories).

The Hornets concluded the regular season today and do not play again until the Big Sky Tournament.

Sacramento State 6, Portland State 1

Doubles competition
1. Anton Stryhas/Kiryl Harbatsiuk (SAC) def. Alex Hart/Kyle Erickson (PSU), 8-1
2. Artur Klimenka/Sven-David Rueff (SAC) def. Sean Eberle/Adam Blackner (PSU), 8-2
3. Holden Ching/Ronan Conlon (SAC) Alex VanDerschelden/Jeff Cero (PSU), 8-2
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles competition
1. Anton Stryhas (SAC) def. Alex VanDerschelden (PSU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Kiryl Harbatsiuk (SAC) def. Kyle Erickson (PSU), 6-2, 6-0
3. Artur Klimenka (SAC) def. Adam Blackner (PSU), 6-2, 6-3
4. Holden Ching (SAC) def. Sean Eberle (PSU), 6-3, 6-2
5. Sven-David Rueff (SAC) def. Alex Hart (PSU), 6-3, 6-3
6. Jeff Cero (PSU) def. Ronan Conlon (SAC), 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 4, 3, 5, 6