WOMEN'S TENNIS RALLIES FOR 4-3 VICTORY OVER LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

2/8/2008

LOS ANGELES - Freshman Melissa Valenzuela defeated Loyola Marymount's Tamara Tanner 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 at the No. 2 singles position to give No. 57 Sacramento State a 4-3 victory over No. 69 LMU on Friday, Feb. 8 at the LMU Tennis Center.

With the win, the Hornets remain a perfect 4-0 on the season, while the Lions fall to 0-4.

Loyola Marymount struck first at No. 1 doubles, as their duo of Pavla Mesterova and Tanner defeated Hornet sophomore Katrina Zheltova and junior Luba Schifris by a score of 8-3. The Hornets' duo of Valenzuela and junior Joyce Martinez Gutierrez also lost, 8-3, at No. 3 doubles. Sophomore Aileen Tsan and junior Anastassia Lyssenko won, 8-4, at No. 2 doubles, but Loyola Marymount won the necessary two matches to earn the doubles point.

Sacramento State collected the next two points, as junior Karina Jarlkaganova took care of LMU's Shauna Morgan at No. 5 singles 6-3, 6-0, and then Schifris collected a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Audrey Bulkey at No. 4 singles.

Trailing, 2-1, in the match, LMU scored the next two points, getting singles victories at the Nos. 1 and 3 positions. Sacramento State was able to even the match at 3-3 after Martinez defeated Bliss Nixon, 2-6, 7-5, 6-0, at No. 6.

The match came down to No. 2 singles between Valenzuela and the Lion's Tanner, which ended 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in favor of the Hornets.

Sacramento State returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 10 as they travel to Pepperdine to take on the Waves. First serve is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

#57 Sacramento State 4, #69 Loyola Marymount 3

Singles competition
1. Pavla Mesterova (LMU) def. #63 Katrina Zheltova (SAC) 6-4, 6-3
2. Melissa Valenzuela (SAC) def. Tamara Tanner (LMU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
3. Tina Razloznik (LMU) def. Anastassia Lyssenko (SAC) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
4. Luba Schifris (SAC) def. Audrey Bulkley (LMU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Karina Jarlkaganova (SAC) def. Shauna Morgan (LMU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Joyce Martinez Gutierrez (SAC) def. Bliss Nixon (LMU) 2-6, 7-5, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Pavla Mesterova/Tamara Tanner (LMU) def. Katrina Zheltova/Luba Schifris (SAC) 8-3
2. Aileen Tsan/Anastassia Lyssenko (SAC) def. Tina Razloznik/Bliss Nixon (LMU) 8-4
3. Audrey Bulkley/Shauna Morgan (LMU) def. Joyce Martinez Gutierrez/Melissa Valenzuela (SAC) 8-3

Match Notes:

Sacramento State 4-0; National ranking #57
Loyola Marymount 0-4; National ranking #69

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,4,1,3,6,2)