After winning a thrilling match last night against Montana State to advance to the semifinals, the Sacramento State men’s tennis team’s season was dashed with a loss to Weber State at the Gold River Racquet Club on Saturday.

The 4-1 loss capped a season in which injuries were the biggest opponent for the Hornets. At one time, the Hornets only had three players, out of a nine-man roster, capable of playing.

The Wildcats took an early lead after winning the doubles point and winning another point at the hands of junior Oliver Andersen at No. 5 (6-3, 7-5).

The lone point for Sac State was a win at No. 3, by junior Marek Marksoo (6-4, 6-3). Unfortunately for the Hornets, that point would not give them any momentum, as the Wildcats took down sophomore Niranjan Ram at No. 2 and junior Tom Miller at No. 6.

The other two matches, junior Roy Brandys playing at No. 1 and sophomore Joaquin Marquez at No. 4 were a no result, as Sac State could not make up the points.

This marks the first time since 2008 that the Hornets are not the last team standing at the end of the Big Sky Championship. Big expectations to start the year were muffled when the team was unable to recover from nagging injuries.

Injuries to Marksoo, Miller, Brandys and junior Sean Kolar, who redshirted this season due to a knee injury, made way for younger players Ram, Marquez and freshman Ayman Abdulwahab to take the lead.

Ram, who slid into the No. 2 position for the majority of the season, ended up with 14 wins for the Hornets, the most of any player on the team. Marquez also saw a shift in positioning, and went 11-8 for the season.

Although it did not end the way the Hornets would have liked, the future is bright. The team will return all of its players, and will see Kolar back to full health.

Weber State, who came into the tournament as the No. 1 seed will face off against No.2 seed Montana, on Sunday for the rights to the Big Sky Championship.