SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Sacramento State men's tennis team swept all nine matches en route to a 7-0 win over Santa Clara, Sunday afternoon at the Degheri Tennis Center. The win improved the Hornets to 6-7 on the year and snapped a three-match losing streak.
The Hornets had little trouble on Sunday, winning five of the six singles matches in straight sets and cruising through two of the three doubles matches. Sacramento State took a 1-0 lead after doubles play. Kiryl Harbatsiuk and Anton Stryhas had the toughest time at No. 1. The pair defeated Steven Benvenuto and Jay Wong, 8-6. The team of Artur Klimenka and Sven-David Rueff made quick work of Senthil Chidambaram and Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong at No. 2 with an 8-0 win. The final victory came at No. 3 where Holden Ching and Ronan Conlon downed John Iwanski and Justin Wong, 8-3.
All six Sacramento State players also played singles and each came away with a win. The final three spots in the ladder were dominated by the Hornets who surrendered just 11 games in the six combined sets. Ching defeated Charlie Burke, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 4. He was followed by Conlon who recorded a 6-3, 6-3, win over Justin Wong at No. 5. Rueff provided the other win at No. 6, 6-1, 6-1, over John Iwanski.
The top of the ladder was also victorious but was tested a little more. Styrhas picked up a 7-5, 6-2, win over Jay Wong at No. 1. Harbatsiuk was pushed to the limits by Hirakawa-Wong but prevailed, 7-6, 7-6. Klimenka completed the sweep by topping Chidambaram, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, at No. 3.
Sacramento State will next play at Northern Arizona on March 15. The match in Flagstaff, Ariz., will be the first Big Sky Conference contest of the year for the Hornets.
Sacramento State 7, Santa Clara 0
Doubles
1. Kiryl Harbatsiuk/Anton Stryhas (SAC) def. Steven Benvenuto/Jay Wong 8-6
2 Artur Klimenka/Sven-David Rueff (SAC) def. Senthil Chidambaram/Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong 8-0
3. Holden Ching/Ronan Conlon (SAC) def. John Iwanski/Justin Wong 8-3
Singles
1. Anton Stryhas (SAC) def. Jay Wong 7-5, 6-2
2. Kiryl Harbatsiuk (SAC) def. Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong 7-6, 7-6
3. Artur Klimenka (SAC) def. Senthil Chidambaram 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
4. Holden Ching (SAC) def. Charlie Burke 6-2, 6-1
5. Ronan Conlon (SAC) def. Justin Wong 6-3, 6-3
6. Sven-David Rueff (SAC) def. John Iwanski 6-1, 6-1
