THE STREAK CONTINUES AS WOMEN'S TENNIS DOWNS MONTANA STATE 7-0

3/8/2009

GOLD RIVER, Calif. - The No. 42 ranked Sacramento State women's tennis team defeated Montana State by a score of 7-0 on Sunday, March 8 at the Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 8-4 overall, 3-0 inside of the Big Sky Conference, while the Bobcats fall to 5-7, 2-1 in Big Sky play. The Hornets have now won 55 straight matches over conference competition.

Sacramento State returned to its winning ways, posting its first victory in its last five matches to remain perfect in Big Sky action. In doubles play, junior Aileen Tsan and freshman Maria Meliuk moved up to the No. 1 position, and defeated Ali Griffin and Andrea De La Torre, 8-3. Redshirt freshman Clarisse Baca and senior Luba Schifris made quick work of McKenzie Hilmer and Laura Villegas at the No. 3 position, 8-2, to give the Hornets the doubles point.

In singles play, Schifris posted a straight set victory over Villegas at No. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-0, to start the Hornets out on the right foot. Meliuk then followed with her first career victory at the No. 1 position, defeating Stephanie Jasper 6-1, 6-3. Baca sealed the match for the Hornets at No. 4 singles, posting a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Griffin to give her team the winning fourth point.

Tsan came in next with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Missy Harris at No. 2 singles, and freshman Milica Zivanovic followed right behind her with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over De La Torre at No. 6 singles.

The final match to be contested, No. 5 singles, went to a first set tiebreak, with Hornet sophomore Melissa Valenzuela pulling out a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory over Hilmer to complete the Sacramento State sweep.

#42 Sacramento State 7, Montana State 0
Mar 08, 2009 at Gold River, Calif. (Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. MELIUK, Maria (SAC) def. JASPER, Stephanie (MSU) 6-1, 6-3
2. TSAN, Aileen (SAC) def. HARRIS, Missy (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. SCHIFRIS, Luba (SAC) def. VILLEGAS, Laura (MSU) 6-0, 6-0
4. BACA, Clarisse (SAC) def. GRIFFIN, Ali (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
5. VALENZUELA, Melissa (SAC) def. HILMER, McKenzie (MSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
6. ZIVANOVIC, Milica (SAC) def. DE LA TORRE, Andrea (MSU) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. MELIUK, Maria/TSAN, Aileen (SAC) def. GRIFFIN, Ali/DE LA TORRE, Andrea (MSU) 8-3
2. HARRIS, Missy/JASPER, Stephanie (MSU) def. VALENZUELA, Melissa/ZIVANOVIC, Milica (SAC) 8-4
3. BACA, Clarisse/SCHIFRIS, Luba (SAC) def. HILMER, McKenzie/VILLEGAS, Laura (MSU) 8-2

Match Notes
Montana State 5-7 (2-1 BSC)
Sacramento State 8-4 (3-0 BSC); National ranking #42
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,1,4,2,6,5)