The women’s tennis team handled conference foe Idaho State 6-0 at the Spare Time Tennis Courts in Rancho Cordova Sunday afternoon, winning each match in straight sets. It was their fourth win in a row for the Hornets, who improved to 6-3 on the season. Both teams agreed to forego the doubles matches.

Filling in for a resting Margarita Karnaukhova at the No. 1 singles spot, freshman Luba Schifris bested Denise Cockrell 6-0, 6-2, and at the three, freshman Karina Jarlkaganova beat Lauren Pascoe 6-1, 6-1. Junior Cecilia Helland won her match against Valerie Espinosa 6-0, 6-3. Freshman Svetlana Pimenova defeated Katie Zigars 6-0, 6-1, while fellow freshman Irina Taranenko dropped Anastasia Sazykina 6-2, 6-0.

At No. 2, Joyce Martinez Gutierrez won her match against Armine Sarkavagyan 6-2, 6-3. The fiery freshman from Mexico started the season late due to a delayed diploma transfer, but after winning the first match of her collegiate career against Loyola Marymount, she has now won three straight singles matches.

“Since she joined us, we haven’t lost a match,” coach Bill Campbell said. “She really makes a difference.”

Campbell added that her performance gives him the flexibility to rest some of his injured players. Karnaukhova is still wrestling with back problems, Anastassia Lyssenko is coming back from an ankle injury, and Schifris continues to play, and win, despite a sprained wrist.

In spite of the regular wear and tear of the season, Campbell feels his young team is finally starting to jell.

“I feel really good now. I think we’re as strong as we’ve been so far, even though we’re very young.”

The No. 70 ranked Hornets now prepare for a conference clash with Weber State on Tuesday at the Rio Del Oro Racquet Club, weather permitting. The following three matches will test the team against nationally-ranked opponents, at home against No. 37 New Mexico on Wednesday and No. 72 Rice on Friday, followed by No. 17 Pepperdine in Malibu on March 19.

Josh Terrell can be reached at [email protected]