ASU sweeps Sac State women’s tennis 7-0

Patricia Carpenter

In the final match of their two-day road trip to Tucson, Arizona, Sacramento State’s women’s tennis team (1-4) faced a tall order when they competed against No. 36 University of Arizona (3-0) on Sunday. The women were swept by the Wildcats with a final score of 7-0.

Sophomore Deimante Bulatovaite and junior Jennifer Ong were the only Hornets to win a set in their individual matches. Bulatovaite pushed Arizona’s Laura Oldham to a third set after losing the first one 5-7 and coming back to win the second one 6-4. The sophomore was unable to overcome her opponent in the final set and fell 5-10 in a tiebreaker.

Ong returned to the singles lineup in position No. 6 and won her second set 6-3 after dropping the first one 3-6, but the captain retired her third set after ASU clinched its win over Sac State.

The Wildcats earned quick victories in doubles and singles one, two and five to claim the match, putting them ahead 4-0 overall while Ong was in the middle of her match.

Sac State has yet to earn a point in doubles, with junior duo Olivia Boija and Ong being downed quickly by ASU’s Briar Preston and Shayne Austin at 6-1. Lauren Marker and Inge Hendrikx followed suit as they retired Bulatovaite and Alina Soltanici at 6-2 to take the first point of the match.

Freshman Ana Loaiza Esquivias replaced Daria Savchenko in singles position No. 5, and the two were doubles partners in position No. 3. Their match was left unfinished. Loaiza Esquivias lost in straight sets to Hendrikx (6-3, 6-1).

The women will continue on the road next weekend as they open up Big Sky Conference action against Eastern Washington University at 10 a.m. Feb. 13 in Cheney, Washington. The women will wrap up their second road match against the University of Idaho at 4 p.m. on Friday.