Sacramento State men’s tennis team lost to the University of Portland on Saturday 4-2 and to the University of Oregon on Friday, 6-1.

Sac State’s record dropped to 3-5, as the reigning Big Sky Conference champs struggle to maintain the pace it set last season.

On Saturday, in Portland, the Hornets switched up their lineup, moving senior Fabio Jesus from the No. 2 spot to No.3, and moving freshman Ali Abbou from No.4 to the No. 5.

“I wanted to give the opportunity for players to play higher or lower. I didn’t want a stagnant lineup,” Hornet coach Chris Evers said. “When the Big Sky (tournament) comes around I didn’t want to have a set lineup.”

The changes proved to be successful for the Hornets, as Jesus and Abbou picked up the victories on Saturday.

Jesus defeated Portland’s Nick Tostenrude in two sets, 7-5 and 7-6, improving his individual record to 4-4.

“Fabio is playing very focused and very well right now. He is very much a leader. He is definitely the biggest surprise by far,” Evers said.

Picking up the other win, Abbou finished his match in just two sets also, winning 7-5 and 6-4, against Portland’s Spencer Straub. Abbou improved his singles record to 5-3.

Last year’s Big Sky Most Valuable Player Sherif Zaher, Sac State’s No. 1 player, lost 1-6 and 4-6 to Travis Parrott of Portland. Parrott is ranked No. 35 amongst Div. I collegiate competitors.

Freshman Peter Farkas, playing in the No. 6 position, lost his match in a three-set tiebreaker, falling in the last set 10-8.

Sophomore Nick Sheehan, No. 4 for the Hornets, was swept 6-4 and 7-6.

Freshman Matt Jones, who moved into the No.2 spot, lost to Portland’s Peter Malacek in two sets, 6-2 and 6-3. Malacek is ranked 102 in Div. I.

Malacek and Parrott then teamed up in the No. 1 spot for the doubles match, ousting Zaher and Jones 8-2.

Despite the loss, Evers was impressed with his young team’s play in Portland on a very fast court surface.

The Hornets faired no better when they went up against Oregon, as Sac State’s only singles win came from Zaher, who was victorious against Oded Teig, 6-3 and 6-4.

Oregon, ranked No. 66 in Div. I, finished off the rest of the Hornet singles line-up, cruising to victories over Jesus, Jones, Abbou, Sheehan and Farkas.

The Hornets picked up a win in the doubles match as Zaher and Jones defeated Pawlowski and Jason Menke, 8-6. The win brings their doubles record to 4-3 in the No. 1 spot.

Out of the next nine opponents for Sac State, five are ranked nationally, and that poses problems for an extremely young Sac State that, despite its youth, was picked to win the Big Sky.

Abbou, Farkas, and Jones are all freshmen competing in the top six spots while sophomore Nick Sheehan is also, for the first time, playing consistently in the top spots.

“When the Big Sky comes around and we’re in pressure situations, we’ll be ready,” Coach Evers said. “We’ll be seasoned by then and hopefully playing really well.”

The Hornets next match will be against conference rival Weber State University on Thursday in Utah.

Evers believes his team will be able to take advantage of Weber State and thinks the match up will also be preview of the Big Sky tournament in April.