STOCKTON, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento State women’s tennis team came up clutch late in Thursday’s dual match at Pacific, winning a pair of three-set marathons at the No. 5 and No. 1 singles positions to erase a 3-2 Tiger lead and close out a 4-3 road victory at the Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center in Stockton, Calif.

The win was the sixth straight for the Hornets, who improved to 8-3 overall on the year. Sacramento State’s winning streak is the longest since it won eight straight from March 24-April 22, 2012, while the eight wins are just three shy of last year’s total when the Hornets finished 11-11 overall.

In addition, the Hornets’ 8-3 start is the team’s best since they opened with the same record in the first 11 duals of 2010.

For the fifth time during its winning streak, Sacramento State took the early lead with a doubles point victory, posting wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots for a 1-0 advantage. Freshman Lou Baudouin and senior Mayya Gorbanova opened with a 6-3 win at the No. 3 spot to get the Hornets on the board first before junior Maddy Ferreros and freshman Irene Riva closed out the point with a 6-4 win at No. 2.

The two teams traded points to open singles play with the Tigers claiming a straight-set win at No. 4 to tie the overall match before Baudouin answered with a 6-3, 6-3, win over Megan Carmichael at No. 3 for a 2-1 lead.

Pacific then put Sacramento State’s collective backs against the wall, dominating the second sets in straight-set victories at the No. 6 and No. 2 spots in the lineup to take a 3-2 lead and move to within one victory of a dual match win.

Riva opened with a 6-3 victory in the first set, but the Tigers’ Milena Mayorova drew event with a 6-2 win in the second. The Hornets’ freshman responded quickly in the third, winning the first three games before closing out her opponent with a 6-2 win in the third to draw Sacramento State level in the dual.

That sent all eyes to the No. 1 court where Gorbanova and Klara Kosen were locked in battle, with Gorbunova taking the first in a tiebreaker, 7-6, before falling just short in a second set that saw her nearly rally all the way back from a 5-1 deficit before falling 6-4. In the third, the Hornets’ senior jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead and went ahead 4-2 before closing out Kosen with wins in the final two games for the 6-3 win.

With her singles victory, Riva improved to 9-1 overall, extending her winning streak to eight consecutive matches, while Baudouin also improved to 9-1, winning for the first time since opening the season 8-0. At 6-1 on the year, Gorbunova won her fourth straight match.

In doubles, the tandem of Ferreros and Riva continued to roll, winning their fifth consecutive contest to remain undefeated as a duo, while Baudouin and Gorbunova improved to 2-0 as a pair.

Sacramento State returns home next week to open a string of seven consecutive home duals, hosting Utah State on Monday, March 11, at 2 p.m. at the tennis courts on campus. The Hornets then open Big Sky Conference play five days later, welcoming Weber State to Northern California on Saturday, March 16, at 11 a.m.

NCAA WOMEN’S TENNIS

Sacramento State 4, Pacific 3

March 7, 2024 // Stockton, Calif. (Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center)

DOUBLES

1. Klara Kosan / Tomi Main (PAC) def. Weronika Ejsmont / Best Lee (SAC), 6-4

2. Maddy Ferreros / Irene Riva (SAC) def. Megan Carmichael / Alexis Sam (PAC), 6-4

3. Lou Baudouin / Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) def. Milena Mayorova / Elizaveta Mladentseva (PAC), 6-3

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2*

SINGLES

1. Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) def. Klara Kosan (PAC), 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3

2. Tomi Main (PAC) def. Maddy Ferreros (SAC), 7-6 (1), 6-0

3. Lou Baudouin (SAC) def. Megan Carmichael (PAC), 6-3, 6-3

4. Elizaveta Mladentseva (PAC) def. Elena Mercioiu (SAC), 6-2, 6-2

5. Irene Riva (SAC) def. Milena Mayorova (PAC), 6-3, 2-6, 6-2

6. Indiya McLeod (PAC) def. Reese Walker (SAC), 7-6 (7), 6-0

Order of finish: 4, 3, 6, 2, 5, 1*