Box Score SACRAMENTO - The UC Irvine women's tennis team (2-4) fell to Sacramento State, 4-0, Saturday evening at Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center.
 
The Hornets (5-3) won a hard-fought doubles point. At No. 1, Weronika Esjmont/Best Lee outlasted Carolyna Fowler and Emily Fowler, 6-4. Maddy Ferreros and Irene Riva then secured the early 1-0 lead with a 6-3 victory over Kayla Meraz and Jenna Schlatter.
 
In singles, Sac State won in straight sets at Nos. 3, 5 and 6 for the 4-0 victory.

Meraz was up 6-3, 4-1 on Esjmont at the second position when the match was clinched. Schlatter was locked in a tight battle with Mayya Gorbunova at the top of the lineup as she came up just short in a first-set tiebreaker, 7-6 (2). Amanda Perez also saw her match go unfinished, trailing 7-6 (1), 5-2 at No. 4.
 
"We ran into a very tough Sac State team and they might be even tougher indoors," said head coach Elizabeth Ferris Smith. "We would get some momentum going but made a few too many errors. They played big with lots of confidence from the start which put us on our heels a little too much. It's too bad that Jenna, Kayla, and Amanda couldn't finish their matches. I thought they played with a lot of heart and made smart decisions under pressure. The good news - we have another opportunity tomorrow!"
 
DOUBLES
Weronika Ejsmont/Best Lee (SAC) def. Carolyna Fowler/Emily Fowler (UCI) 6-4
Maddy Ferreros/Irene Riva (SAC) def. Kayla Meraz/Jenna Schlatter (UCI) 6-3
Mayya Gorbunova/Lou Baudouin (SAC) vs Asha Gidwani/Amanda Perez (UCI) 5-3 unf
 
SINGLES
Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) vs Jenna Schlatter (UCI) 7-6 (7-2) unf
Kayla Meraz (UCI) vs Weronika Ejsmont (SAC) 6-3, 4-1 unf
Lou Baudouin (SAC) def. Asha Gidwani (UCI) 6-2, 6-2
Reese Walker (SAC) vs Amanda Perez (UCI) 7-6 (7-1), 5-2 unf
Irene Riva (SAC) def. Haily Huynh (UCI) 6-1, 6-0
Best Lee (SAC) def. Carolyna Fowler (UCI) 6-3, 6-3

WHAT THE PLAYERS HAD TO SAY:
"Although today didn't go our way I was proud of the team's fight to try and stay in it. This is only the beginning of our fight and we will continue to work hard and come back stronger next time. Go 'Eaters!" - Kayla Meraz

UP NEXT
The Anteaters will play their third match in as many days when they head to UC Davis for a 10 a.m. Big West showdown on Saturday, Feb. 18.