The Sacramento State men’s tennis team kept its winning streak going by beating UT Arlington Saturday after defeating Northern Arizona earlier in the day. Despite the higher level of competition, the Hornets achieved a perfect 7-0 score against the Mavericks.

The overwhelming play of the doubles team continued as Kiryl Harbatsiuk and Anton Stryhas easily beat Dmitry Minkin and Mindaugas Celedinas 8-2. Artur Klimenka and Jason Smith also won 8-2, beating David Subirats and Gonzalo Bienzobas. Holden Ching and Marko Starcevic completed the doubles sweep winning 8-3 over Brieuc Hamon and Adam Srkala.

Singles play started off with Smith being the only player to win straight sets, beating Srkala 6-1, 6-3 in a heated contest that involved both players having verbal exchanges with the umpire. “He just called a foot-fault, but he didn’t call it until after the point,” Smith said. “You’re supposed to call it before you finish the play.”

Ching won the next match 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, putting an end to Hamon’s comeback attempt. “I got a little tired in the second set, my legs felt a little heavy from this morning,” Ching said. “I had control with all the sets really, I just lost serve in the second set and played a little sloppy.”

Klimenka came back after a disastrous first set against Bienzobas, winning 1-6, 6-1, 6-2. “Well I started playing more consistent and actually played well after first set,” Klimenka said. “I’m pretty happy I finally found my game.”

Starcevic also had to come back in match. Tempers got a little heated as Starcevic rallied against Subirats 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. “He started throwing balls away from me instead of giving it to me,” Starcevic said. “That’s mean, I snapped at one point but the later on the ref warned me to be nice, so I calmed down.”

Harbatsiuk battled Celedinas in a back and forth game and eventually came out on top 6-7, 6-3, 6-2. “In the beginning, I couldn’t serve really good because it was windy,” Harbatsiuk said.

Stryhas had the hardest battle to climb as he tripped and fell on his arm during warm-ups. Despite having a sore arm Stryhas was able to defeat Minkin 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Future warm-up routines might be changed to prevent any future injuries.

“Yeah I guess, I’m going to be a little wiser. I’m not going to fall on my arm again,” Stryhas said.

“It’s pretty gutsy. The third set, it’s more about mental toughness and not so much tennis. Because you’re tired, and you’ve already played all day,” assistant coach Kevin Kurtz said. “It’s part of not only winning but fighting against the other opponent but your mind, you can’t let up.”

As the prepared to go home for the day the players didn’t seem surprised that all were victorious in their third sets.

“Cause we’re Hornets man, we fight back all the time,” Stryhas said.

Mitchell Wilson can be reached at [email protected]