NO. 42 RANKED WOMEN'S TENNIS FALLS TO NO. 21 DENVER

3/20/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The No. 42 ranked Sacramento State women's tennis team won the doubles point, but was unable to take home any of the singles matches in a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the No. 21 ranked Denver Pioneers on March 20 at the Rio Del Oro Racquet Club.

With the loss, the Hornets fall to 11-3 on the season, while the Pioneers improve to 15-1.

The Hornets, who have battled injuries the past two weeks, started the match on the right foot, winning the doubles point. After falling in the first match to finish, No. 1 doubles, the Hornets picked up victories in the final two positions. Juniors Luba Schifris and Karina Jarlkaganova started it off with an 8-4 victory at No. 2 doubles, and the Hornets' No. 3 tandem of sophomore Aileen Tsan and junior Anastassia Lyssenko wrapped up the doubles point with an 8-6 victory.

However, the Pioneers would enact their revenge, as they took home all six singles matches to complete the 6-1 victory. At No. 1 singles, freshman Melissa Valenzuela, filling in for No. 41 ranked sophomore Katrina Zheltova who is out with an injury, was swept in set one by No. 77 Mallory Voelker, 6-0, before having to retire due to injury herself for the second straight match. The rest of the Hornets, also moving up one spot from their normal flight position, also struggled with the once-beaten Pioneers, with only one match going to a third set. That took place at No. 2 singles, where Lyssenko gave Annette Aksdal all she could handle before falling in three, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

The Hornets will return to action on Saturday, March 22, as they travel to Austin, Texas to take on the No. 17 ranked University of Texas at 10 a.m.

#21 Denver 6, #42 Sacramento State 1
3/20/2008 at Sacramento, Calif. (Rio Del Oro Racquet Club)

Singles competition
1. #77 Mallory Voelker (DEN) def. Melissa Valenzuela (SAC) 6-0, retired
2. Annette Aksdal (DEN) def. Anastassia Lyssenko (SAC) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
3. Ute Schnoy (DEN) def. Luba Schifris (SAC) 7-5, 6-1
4. Julia Bauregger (DEN) def. Karina Jarlkaganova (SAC) 6-2, 6-1
5. Kyla Iwinski (DEN) def. Aileen Tsan (SAC) 6-2, 6-1
6. Bhavani Tirumurti (DEN) def. Joyce Martinez Gutierrez (SAC) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Julia Bauregger/Mallory Voelker (DEN) def. Melissa Valenzuela/Joyce Martinez Gutierrez (SAC) 8-1
2. Luba Schifris/Karina Jarlkaganova (SAC) def. Ute Schnoy/Kyla Iwinski (DEN) 8-4
3. Aileen Tsan/Anastassia Lyssenko (SAC) def. Bhavani Tirumurti/Annette Aksdal (DEN) 8-6

Match Notes
Denver 15-1; National ranking #21
Sacramento State 11-3; National ranking #42
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,5,4,6,3,2)