MEN’S TENNIS DROPS 4-3 DECISION AT SAINT MARY’S

3/8/2008

MORAGA, Calif. – Sacramento State was able to win the doubles point, but got just two singles victories (from Anton Stryhas and Sven-David Rueff) as Saint Mary’s downed the Hornets, 4-3, in a non-conference men’s tennis match Saturday afternoon at the Korth Tennis Complex.

With the loss, Sacramento State lost its third straight and dropped to 5-7 overall. Saint Mary’s won its sixth in a row and improved to 10-3 overall and 5-0 on its home courts. The Hornets are in the midst of a run that will see the team play 12 straight matches away from home.

Sacramento State started off the match well, winning two of the three doubles matches to gain the doubles point. The atandems of Kiryl Harbatsiuk/Anton Stryhas (8-2) and Ronan Conlon/Holden Ching (8-5) were each victorious.

However, the Gaels were able to win four singles matches (each coming in straight sets) to clinch the 4-3 victory. Stryhas won his ninth straight singles match, outlasing Lucas Tirelli, 6-3, 7-6 (5). In the only three-set match of the day, Rueff knocked off Youssef El Bouzkouri at the No. 6 position by the score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Harbatsiuk kept things close at No. 1, but eventually fell to Joel Kusnierz, 7-5, 6-3.

The Hornets conclude their three-day run through the Bay Area with a match tomorrow afternoon at Santa Clara at 1 p.m. Sacramento State lost at San Francisco yesterday, 5-2.

For results, click here.