The season ended for the Sacramento State women’s tennis team when it lost to Arizona State 4-0 in the NCAA Tournament Friday in Fresno. After stomping the Big Sky throughout the season and during the Big Sky Tournament, the Hornets entered the NCAA Tournament ranked 53rd in the NCAA. No. 21 Arizona State got off to a good start when it won the doubles point with an 8-2 victory in the No. 1 match and an 8-3 victory in the No. 2 match. “Maybe we could have been a little more aggressive in doubles but their 1 and 2 in doubles are good and ranked,” junior Luba Schifris said.

In tournament play, the first team to win four matches advances so the doubles point is more important than in the regular season.

Teams cannot bounce back later in singles as easily because it’s a race to four wins.

“It was just a tough match. I didn’t have any complaints about their efforts at all,” Director of Tennis Bill Campbell said.

In singles play, juniors Anastassia Lyssenko and Joyce Martinez Gutierrez lost their matches along with freshman Melissa Valenzuela. Lyssenko was downed 6-2, 6-0 in the No. 2 match, Martinez lost 6-1, 7-5 and Valenzuela fell 6-3, 6-2. Schifris had split sets in the No. 4 match 3-6, 6-3 but trailed 3-1 in the third before it was stopped.

“There were a couple things I wish were different,” Campbell said. “Luba had been out almost a month and she got tired halfway through her second set but she kept playing her heart out.”

In the No. 1 match, No. 34-ranked sophomore Katrina Zheltova was behind No. 23 Nadia Abdala 7-5, 6-5. Junior Karina Jarlkaganova lost her first set 6-4 but was on the verge of winning the second set when it was halted at 5-3 in her favor.

“Karina played really well. She was just about ready to win the second set,” Campbell said. “She’s a notoriously slow starter but finishes strong.” Jarlkaganova won 2 of her 3 matches this season that went to three sets or had tiebreakers. “Luba and Karina both played until the end,” Martinez said.

Against ranked teams, the Hornets had a 1-6 record, however, they usually played teams ranked in the vicinity of the top-20 in the country.

The NCAA loss was the first time the Hornets played Arizona State.

Losing to such a successful season will help Sac State garner more respect in the rankings next season and it will likely play more ranked teams as a result.

“I thought we had an outstanding year,” Campbell said. ” The girls had a lot of good wins and learned a lot – they all got better and better as The girls had a lot of good wins and learned a lot they all got better and better as the year went along.”

Cameron Ross can be reached at [email protected]