By Andrew Hartley(@andrewhart1ey) – Spear Reporter
Senior Carolina Millan celebrating her three-set singles victory against Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon. l Photo by Andrew Hartley – The Spear
SJSU tennis won its first home match of the season Saturday afternoon against Sacramento State and won 5-2. It has an all-time record against Sac State of 9-1 with the one loss coming a season ago.
This year, the team approached things differently leading to better execution.
“Today we took advantage… had some tight three-set matches and fortunately, for this year, we won them, ” said SJSU head coach Chad Skorupka.
While the finishing of close single matches certainly elevated the team, it’s been the doubles play that’s carried the Spartans. They’ve still yet to lose in doubles play in spring.
It’s in large part due to new duo senior Irena Muradyan and freshman Cheuk Ying Shek.
“We’re looking forward to her(Ying Shek) continuing playing good doubles with Irena, it was great going up 1-0 into the singles matches,” said Skorupka.
Ying-Shek and Muradyan have yet to lose a doubles match all season. The two won their doubles tournament at Saint Mary’s in October and carried their winning ways into spring.
Muradyan won her first singles match of the season Saturday, and it went to three sets again.
Carolina Millan and Jovana Babic also won their doubles match to remain undefeated in spring.
Millan, Babic and senior Rozalina Youseva all went on to win their singles matches. They are all undefeated in singles play through two matches.
Both freshmen for the Spartans, Ying Shek and Duru Durgun, lost their doubles matches. However, it continues to be the learning curve in just their second collegiate tennis meets.
This is the first of 11 matches at home this year for SJSU tennis, great for the four seniors on the eight person roster.
“Personally, I love playing with a lot of people and I know the girls love being at home, it’s just so much easier,” said Millan.
Their next match won’t be until Feb. 9 when they hope to continue their win streak to three matches against Cal Poly in San Jose at noon.