In the first tough test this year for the women?s tennis team, the Hornets suffered their first loss, falling to CSU Northridge 5-2 on Saturday.

The weather played a part in the contest, as the teams were forced to play inside a bubble-shaped tennis area because of the rainy weather. The indoor facility contains only two courts, which caused a lot of delayed matches, and turned the event into a seven-hour marathon.

“It was a very competitive match. They (Northridge) just beat a top 50 opponent, UC Irvine,” head coach Bill Campbell said. “When you only have two courts, and you have some long, tough matches, it will take a while.”

The day started off well for the Hornets, but by the time it was over, Sac State had suffered its first loss of the season, pushing its record to 2-1.

In the number one and two singles matches, Gabriella Lundqvist and Marta Gronowicz cruised to straight set victories. Lundqvist won her match 7-6(5), 6-1 and Gronowicz defeated her opponent 6-2, 6-1.

“We won the number one and two matches very easily,” Campbell said. “Marta and Gabriella both played very well.”

From that point on however, Northridge proved to be the deeper team, and was able to control the remainder of the lower seed battles. Northridge was able to win the first set in each of the remaining singles matches, forcing Sac State to have to come from behind, which proved to be impossible.

“We had three matches that could have gone the other way,” Campbell said. “Northridge is a better team than last year. Last year the match was over in about an hour. This year we played well against them.”

In the number four match, Caroline Svensson made her debut for the Hornets, as she has been idle in the first two matches of the year due to an ankle injury. After losing the first set 6-2, Svensson fought back to win the second, 6-2, before succumbing to 6-1 in the final set.”The ankle injury affected her mobility, but she played very well,” Campbell said. “It was a really great match, considering the little bit of practice she had.”

Laila Karim and Italina Kirknis, playing in the number five and six matches for the Hornets, were downed in three sets as well. Karim lost 6-3, 4-6,6-1 while Kirknis lost 7-6, 1-6, 6-2. In the other singles match, Janice Mota lost the number three singles match 6-3, 6-2.The two teams went on to play two doubles matches, with Northridge winning both and finishing the match 5-2 victors.

“I was really pleased and impressed with their play,” Campbell said. “I was really proud of the team and the way they played.”

From here the Hornets will travel to Hawaii and participate in a tournament March 4 through 11. They play four matches against the University of Hawaii, Xavier, Colorado State and Villanova.