MEN’S TENNIS SWEEPS ROAD CONFERENCE DOUBLEHEADER, IMPROVES TO 15-5 AND 7-0 IN THE BIG SKY

4/2/2009

POCATELLO, Idaho -- A long day turned into a successful one for the Sacramento State men’s tennis team, which not only won both matches of a doubleheader against two Big Sky Conference opponents, but also did it in two different states.

The Hornets began the day by defeating Weber State in Ogden, Utah by the score of 5-0 before making a two-hour van ride to Pocatello, Idaho, where the team defeated Idaho State, 6-0. The doubles portion of both matches were not played due to time constraints. One of the singles matches against Weber State was not finished because the Hornets already had the match won, and had to hustle to get to Idaho State on time.

With the victories, Sacramento State, which has now played seven matches in seven days, improved to 15-5 overall and 7-0 in the Big Sky. In addition, the Hornets have won 23 straight regular season matches against Big Sky competition dating back to the 2006 season. Sacramento State has outscored its seven conference opponents this season by a score of 44-2.

In match No. 1 against Weber State (6-10, 2-3), junior Kiryl Harbatsiuk defeated Sascha Kliehne in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. At No. 2, sophomore Anton Stryhas, who has been battling shoulder troubles, picked up a come-from-behind victory against Simon Unger 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). The victory for Stryhas gave the reigning Big Sky MVP a team-best 11 straight singles wins dating back to Feb. 8

Freshman Jason Smith continued his hot play by defeating Henning Hipp at No. 3 by the score of 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. Junior Holden Ching was also a come-from-behind victor at No. 4 against Chris Williams 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. At No. 5, sophomore Marko Starcevic defeated Travis Covington 7-5, 6-2. Sophomore Artur Klimenka had split the first two sets with his opponent at No. 6, before the match was called.

The Hornets then traveled two hours across the border into Idaho to take on Idaho State (0-15, 0-5) at Reed Gym.

Harbatsiuk, Smith and Ching all came away with their second wins on the day. Klimenka defeated Dan Buckingham at No. 4 in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Freshman Jimmy Roberts won at No. 5 over Andres Mancero 6-2, 6-3. At No. 6, Sacramento State head coach Slava Konikov turned to little used sophomore Joe DeGuzman who posted a decisive victory over junior David Kutchins 6-1, 6-1.

The torrid stretch of matches for the Hornets continues on Saturday, April 4 when the Hornets travel to San Luis Obispo to take on Cal Poly. And very important points in the Causeway Cup will be up for grabs when Sacramento State travels to rival UC Davis on April 10.

Sacramento State vs Weber State
Apr 02, 2009 at Ogden, UT
(Ogden Athletic Club)

Sacramento State 5, Weber State 0

Singles competition
1. HARBATSIUK, Kiryl (SAC) def. KIEHNE, Sascha (WSU) 6-3, 6-4
2. STRYHAS, Anton (SAC) def. UNGER, Simon (WSU) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
3. SMITH, Jason (SAC) def. HIPP, Henning (WSU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
4. CHING, Holden (SAC) def. WILLIAMS, Chris (WSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. STARCEVIC, Marko (SAC) def. COVINGTON, Travis (WSU) 7-5, 6-2
6. MARCHANT, Spencer (WSU) vs. KLIMENKA, Artur (SAC) 6-4, 3-6,
unfinished

Doubles competition
1. KIEHNE, Sascha/UNGER, Simon (WSU) vs. STRYHAS, Anton/HARBATSIUK, Kiryl (SAC) no result
2. HIPP, Henning/COVINGTON, Travis (WSU) vs. CHING, Holden/STARCEVIC, Marko (SAC) no result
3. MARCHANT, Spencer/WILLIAMS, Chris (WSU) vs. SMITH, Jason/KLIMENKA, Artur (SAC) no result


Sacramento State vs Idaho State
Apr 02, 2009 at Pocatello, ID - Reed Gym
(Indoors)

Sacramento State 6, Idaho State 0

Singles competition

1. HARBATSIUK, Kiryl (SAC) def. ROYO, Javier (ISU) 6-3, 7-5
2. SMITH, Jason (SAC) def. BUCETA, Alex (ISU) 6-2, 6-2
3. CHING, Holden (SAC) def. DECHANT, Ross (ISU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
4. KLIMENKA, Artur (SAC) def. BUCKINGHAM, Dan (ISU) 6-3, 6-3
5. ROBERTS, Jimmy (SAC) def. MANCERO, Andres (ISU) 6-2, 6-3
6. DeGUZMAN, Joe (SAC) def. KUTCHINS, David (ISU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. HARBATSIUK, Kiryl/STRYHAS, Anton (SAC) vs. ROYO, Javier/DECHANT, Ross (ISU) no result
2. CHING, Holden/STARCEVIC, Marko (SAC) vs. BUCETA, Alex/BUCKINGHAM, Dan (ISU) no result
3. KLIMENKA, Artur/SMITH, Jason (SAC) vs. MANCERO, Andres/KUTCHINS, David (ISU) no result