ZHELTOVA RECORDS TWO SINGLES WINS IN OPENING TOURNAMENT FOR WOMEN'S TENNIS

1/18/2008

HONOLULU — The Sacramento State women’s tennis team began its 2008 season at the University of Hawaii Spring Invitational this week. The Hornets, who ended 2007 ranked 56th nationally, competed against Hawaii, Alabama, Kansas and Florida State.

Sophomore Katrina Zheltova, who is ranked 63rd in NCAA Div. I, posted two convincing wins. The Minsk, Belarus, native defeated Florida State’s Lauren McFarlane, 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 6-2 on Wednesday and added a 6-2, 7-6(6) win over the Seminoles’ Katie Rybakova on Thursday. McFarlane was ranked 41st in the preseason national rankings in September while Rybakova is currently ranked 16th.

The Hornets opened the tournament by going 3-3 in singles play during the opening day of the tournament. Joyce Martinez Gutierrez and Karina Jarlkaganova joined Zheltova in the win column. Martinez downed Jennifer Goldman of Hawaii, 6-3, 6-2, and Jarlkaganova defeated Hawaii’s Juila Sandbord, 6-2, 6-0.

The toughest loss of the day came when freshman Melissa Valenzuela fell to Kansas’ Magdalena Torarczyk in three sets, 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(3). Florida State’s Federica Seuss defeated Aileen Tsan, 7-5, 6-1, and Kunigunda Dorn of Kansas bettered Anastassia Lyssenko, 6-4, 6-3.

On Thursday, Valenzuela recorded her first collegiate victory with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Hawaii’s Chloe Bihag and Tsan evened her record by crushing Marie Tanaka of Hawii, 6-0, 6-0 for the team’s other win. Lyssenko suffered a 6-1, 6-1 loss to #74 Tapiwa Marobela of Florida State and Martinez dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Alabama’s Andrea Barnes.

The Hornets also competed in doubles action on both days. Sacramento State posted a 1-2 record during the opening day as Lyssenko and Tsan combined for an 8-1 in over Elise Wettermark and Allison Nolen of Alabama. The Hornets improved their mark to 3-0 on the second day as the teams of Martinez and Valenzuela, Lyssenko and Tsan, and Zheltova and Jarlkaganova each recorded victories.

The tournament concludes on Friday with Sacramento State competing solely in doubles. The Hornets face 72nd-ranked Washington on Saturday afternoon in Honolulu for their first dual match of the season.

SINGLES RESULTS
Jan. 16
Joyce Martinez Gutierrez def. Jennifer Goldman (UH), 6-3, 6-2
Karina Jarlkaganova def. Julia Sandbord (UH), 6-2, 6-0
Melissa Valenzuela def. by Magdalena Torarczyk (KAN), 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(3)
Katrina Zheltova def. Lauren MacFarlane (FSU), 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 6-2
Aileen Tsan def. by Federica Seuss (FSU), 7-5, 6-1
Anastassia Lyssenko def. by Kunigunda Dorn (KAN), 6-4, 6-3

Jan. 17
Melissa Valenzuela def. Chloe Bihag (UH), 6-3, 6-4
Aileen Tsan def. Marie Tanaka (UH), 6-0, 6-0
Katrina Zheltova def. #16 Katie Rybakova (FSU), 6-2, 7-6(6)
Joyce Martinez Gutierrez def. by Andrea Brenes (ALA), 6-2, 6-1
Anastassia Lyssenko def. by #74 Tapiwa Marobela, 6-1, 6-1

DOUBLES RESULTS
Jan. 16
Zheltova/Jarlkaganova def. by Kobuch/Bihag (UH), 9-8(2)
Martinez/Valenzuela def. by MacFarlane/Wente (FSU), 8-3
Lyssenko/Tsan def. Wettermark/Nolen (ALA), 8-1

Jan. 17
Martinez/Valenzuela def. Goldman/Zorec (UH), 8-6
Lyssenko/Tsan def. Seuss/Rynazewska (FSU), 8-6
Zheltova/Jarlkaganova def. Welcher/Tunaru (ALA), 8-4