MEN’S TENNIS KNOCKS OFF TWO OPPONENTS, EXTENDS WINNING STREAK TO SEVEN

3/14/2009

Sacramento, Calif.—The Sacramento State men’s tennis team continued its hot play by sweeping a doubleheader with victories over Northern Arizona (6-1) and UT Arlington (7-0) Saturday afternoon at the Rio Del Oro Racquet Club. In the process, the team extended its winning streak to a season-high seven straight matches.

The Hornets, who have not lost since Feb. 7, improved to 8-4 overall and 3-0 in the Big Sky Conference. Five of the Hornets’ seven victories during the winning streak have come via 6-1 or 7-0 scores.

In the morning session, the Hornets defeated Big Sky opponent Northern Arizona (2-11,1-1). The dominating effort started with a sweep by the three doubles teams and five wins out of the six singles matches.

Sophomore Kiryl Harbatsiuk, who has now won seven singles match in a row, defeated Andrew Reiff, 6-2, 7-5, while also coming away with a win in doubles with junior Anton Stryhas, 8-2. Stryhas also has a seven-match singles winning streak and posted a dominating performance against David Flodberg in their matchup, 6-0, 6-0. Freshman Jason Smith, who has won five of his last six singles matches, made quick work of his opponent freshman Robin Pezzutto 6-2, 6-0.

Later in the afternoon, the Hornets were able to fend off a feisty UT Arlington team who, despite the 7-0 score, gave Sacramento State a battle. After sweeping the doubles competition rather easily, five of the six singles matches went three sets. Smith was the only Hornet to win his match in straight sets, beating Adam Srkala 6-1, 6-3.

Sophomore Artur Klimenka came back from 6-1 first-set loss against junior Gonzalo Bienzobas to win 1-6, 6-1, 6-2. Sophomore Marco Starcevic also had a come-from-behind victory against David Subirats 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. The win for Starcevic gave him six straight singles victories.

Junior Holden Ching capped his perfect day with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win over Brieuc Hamon. Stryhas and Harbatsiuk also came away with perfect records during the day, defeating senior Dmitry Minkin 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and freshman Mindaugas Celedinas 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2 respectively.

The Hornets will look to keep the winning streak alive when they host Big Sky foe Northern Colorado this Monday, March 16, at 1 p.m.

Northern Arizona vs Sacramento State
Mar 14, 2009 at Sacramento, Calif.
(Rio Del Oro Racquet Club)
 
Sacramento State 6, Northern Arizona 1
 
Singles competition
1. HARBATSIUK, Kiryl (SAC) def. Andrew Reiff (NAU) 6-2, 7-5
2. STRYHAS, Anton (SAC) def. David Flodberg (NAU) 6-0, 6-0
3. CHING, Holden (SAC) def. Chris Arena (NAU) 6-4, 6-4
4. SMITH, Jason (SAC) def. Robin Pezzutto (NAU) 6-2, 6-0
5. STARCEVIC, Marko (SAC) def. Jacob Tracy (NAU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Jaco Visagie (NAU) def. ROBERTS, Jimmy (SAC) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-2)
 
Doubles competition
1. STRYHAS, Anton/HARBATSIUK, Kiryl (SAC) def. David Flodberg/Jacob Tracy (NAU) 8-2
2. CHING, Holden/STARCEVIC, Marko (SAC) def. Robin Pezzutto/Andrew Reiff (NAU) 8-6
3. KLIMENKA, Artur/SMITH, Jason (SAC) def. Chris Arena/Jaco Visagie (NAU) 8-3
 
Match Notes:
Northern Arizona 2-11, 1-1
Sacramento State 7-4, 3-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,5,2,1,3,6)

UT Arlington vs Sacramento State
Mar 14, 2009 at Sacramento, Calif.
(Rio Del Oro Racquet Club)
 
Sacramento State 7, UT Arlington 0
 
Singles competition
1. HARBATSIUK, Kiryl (SAC) def. Mindaugas Celedinas (UTA) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2
2. STRYHAS, Anton (SAC) def. Dmitry Minkin (UTA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
3. CHING, Holden (SAC) def. Brieuc Hamon (UTA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
4. SMITH, Jason (SAC) def. Adam Srkala (UTA) 6-1, 6-3
5. STARCEVIC, Marko (SAC) def. David Subirats (UTA) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. KLIMENKA, Artur (SAC) def. Gonzalo Bienzobas (UTA) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. HARBATSIUK, Kiryl/STRYHAS, Anton (SAC) def. Dmitry Minkin/Mindaugas Celedinas (UTA) 8-2
2. CHING, Holden/STARCEVIC, Marko (SAC) def. Brieuc Hamon/Adam Srkala (UTA) 8-3
3. KLIMENKA, Artur/SMITH, Jason (SAC) def. David Subirats/Gonzalo Bienzobas (UTA) 8-2
 
Match Notes:
UT Arlington 6-6
Sacramento State 8-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,3,6,5,1,2)