Although the Sacramento State men’s tennis team got back-to-back victories from Kiryl Harbatsiuk and Jason Smith, No. 32 University of Denver defeated the Hornets 5-2 on Friday evening.

In match No. 3, Holden Ching was defeated by Enjen Bonin, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6.

Anton Stryhas returned to action after being held out of the lineup earlier in the day against Northern Colorado. However, Stryhas lost to David Simson by a 7-6, 7-5 score in match No. 2.

The Hornets had the chance to take the doubles points as well, after splitting the first two matches.

The team of Marko Starcevic and Harbatsiuk defeated Fabio Biasion and Andrew Landwerlen 8-5 in doubles match No. 2 while the duo of Smith and Ching fell to Yannick Weihs and Jens Vorkefeld 8-4 in match No. 1.

Finally, the Pioneers team of Simson and Bonin defeated Stryhas and Joe DeGuzman at No. 3, 8-6, in order to take the doubles points.

Harbatsiuk, ranked at No. 60 nationally, won his singles match 6-1, 6-4, at No. 1 over Weihs.

Smith won his singles match 6-0, 6-2, at No. 4 over Biasion.

Finishing singles play for the Hornets, Starcevic and Jimmy Roberts both lost by 6-3, 6-4 scores to Vorkefeld and Landwerlen respectively.

The Hornets will face University of Iowa today at 11 a.m.

Jules Ramzy can be reached at [email protected]