WOMEN'S TENNIS CLOSES OUT HOMESTAND WITH VICTORIES OVER NO. 37 SAINT MARY'S AND CS BAKERSFIELD
4/7/2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The No. 48 ranked Sacramento State women's tennis improved to 19-4 on the season with a 6-1 victory over No. 37 Saint Mary's and a 6-1 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday, April 6 at the Rio Del Oro Racquet Club.
In the Hornets upset over No. 37 ranked Saint Mary's, Sacramento State starting things off by winning 2-of-3 doubles matches, securing the doubles point. Juniors Luba Schifris and Karina Jarlkaganova took home the first match to finish, defeating Marah Calvo and Stef Ordoveza at the No. 2 position 8-2. Saint Mary's then won the next match at No. 3 doubles, with the point then coming down to the No. 1 position. Sophomore Katrina Zheltova and freshman Melissa Valenzuela faced a strong test from the tandem of Jessica Hoath and Nienke Strijbis before the Hornet duo was able to take home an 8-6 triumph, securing the doubles point.
Sacramento State continued its strong play by winning the first two matches to finish, as Jarlkaganova defeated Calvo at No. 5 singles 6-4, 6-0, and junior Anastassia Lyssenko defeated Claire Soper 6-1, 7-5 at the No. 3 position. After the Gaels took home No. 2 singles to pull to within 3-1, the Hornets would get the clinching point at No. 4 singles, as Schifris defeated Strijbis 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. The Hornets then took home the final two points, as Zheltova, in only her second match back after missing eight straight due to injury, defeated Hoath 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 at No. 1 singles, while Joyce Martinez Gutierrez was victorious at No. 6 singles over Stef Ordoveza 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
In the second match of the day against Cal State Bakersfield, the Hornets took all three doubles matches in short order to take home the doubles point. After being forced to default the No. 6 singles point, which tied the match at 1-1, the Hornets took the final five singles matches to take home the 6-1 victory. Lyssenko was a 6-0, 6-0 winner at No. 2 singles over Ashlee Thorneycroft, while Jarlkaganova (No. 3, 6-0, 6-1), Martinez Gutierrez (No. 4, 6-2, 6-0), and Tsan (No. 5, 6-1, 6-0) were also straight set winners. The toughest test for the Green and Gold occured at No. 1 singles, where Valenzuela was able to pull out a 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8) victory over Kati Lynott.
Sacramento State return to action on Wednesday, April 9, when they travel to take on the No. 5 ranked Stanford Cardinal. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.
#48 Sacramento State 6, #37 Saint Mary's 1 4/6/2008 at Sacramento, Calif. (Rio Del Oro Racquet Club)
Match Notes
Saint Mary's 13-5; National ranking #37
Sacramento State 18-4; National ranking #48 Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,3,2,4,1,6)
#48 Sacramento State 6, CSU Bakersfield 1 4/6/2008 at Sacramento, Calif. (Rio Del Oro Racquet Club)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. 
