Box Score  
MORAGA, Calif. – It was a cool, sunny day in Moraga on Friday morning, but the Saint Mary's Women's Tennis team brought the heat, beating the Sacramento State Hornets by a score of 5-2.
 
Freshman Tian Yu Dong was stellar for the Gaels, clinching the overall victory for SMC in her three set thriller against the Hornets Julia Moraes.
 
DETERMINED DOUBLES
Two of the three doubles matches went the Gaels way, as the duos got off to quick starts and never looked back.
 
Stefanie Silva and Tian Yu Dong featured in the #2 match for the Gaels, but were never able to find their stride as the Hornets duo of Weronika Ejsmont and Best Lee won the match 6-1.
 
In the #3 match, Olivia Rook and Madison Weekley played a strong doubles match, as they took control early and never looked back winning 6-2.
 
The doubles point thus hinged on the #1 match, as the experienced pairing of Jordan Harris and Lene Mari Hovda were tested by Sacramento State's Mayya Gorbunova and Tsveti Yotova. The SMC duo held firm despite a late charge from the Hornets, as the Gaels won the match 6-4, and clinched the vital double's point as well. 
 
STELLAR SINGLES
Saint Mary's brought their positive play to the singles matches as well, with the Gaels winning four of the six matches. 
 
Lene Mari Hovda was all business her in match, destroying Maddy Ferreros of Sacramento State 6-2, 6-0.
 
Hovda's teammate Olivia Rook continued her strong play from last weekend, clinching the win in a tricky second set tiebreak. Despite a strong second set from the Hornets Tsveti Yotova, Rook played confidently in the tiebreak to win the match 6-3, 7-6 (5). 
 
Freshman Jamie Pope faced off against the Hornets Grace McSkimming in the #6 match. McSkimming did a good job at keeping the fierce Pope at arm's length, as the first set went the visitor's way, 7-5. 
 
Pope made an effort to fight back in the second set, but McSkimming found her groove, winning match in the second set, 6-4.
 
Another Gaels freshman played well on Friday, as Tian Yu Dong battled Julia Moraes. The two went back and forth all match, as Moraes quickly jumped out to a lead after winning the first set 6-3. Dong was unphased and fought back with a vengeance, winning the second set in a decisive 7-5 tiebreak. Dong rode the momentum the rest of the way, confidently besting the Hornets player in the third set 6-0. 
 
With Dong's win, she clinched the overall victory for the Gaels as well. 
 
Jordan Harris' match against Mayya Gorbunova started off well, as the fifth year won the first set 6-4. The Hornets player was able to tie the match up, winning the second in a 7-5 tiebreak. The third set started off well for Harris, but she was forced to retire at 2-3 due to an untimely injury.
 
Stefanie Silva continued her strong start to the season on Friday, as she bested Tsveti Yotova in an impressive three set victory. Yotova got the better start, winning the first set 6-4. Silva was undeterred, bouncing back to win the second set 6-4. The win was up for grabs in the third set, and Silva was not going to be denied, powering her shots past Yotova to win the third set and match 6-2. 
 
 
Saint Mary's (2-2) defeats Sacramento State (4-3)
Feb. 17, 2023 in Moraga, Calif. 
Korth Tennis Courts
 
Doubles
 

1. Jordan Harris/Lene Mari Hovda (SMC) def. Mayya Gorbunova/Tsveti Yotova (SAC), 6-4 *
2. Weronika Ejsmont/Best Lee (SAC) def. Stefanie Silva/Tian Yu Dong (SMC), 6-1 
3. Olivia Rook/Madison Weekley (SMC) def. Maddy Ferreros/Alexis Johnson (SAC), 6-2

 
Order of Finish – 2, 3, 1*
*Clinched doubles point
 
 
Singles 
 

1. Mayya Gorbunova (SAC) def. Jordan Harris (SMC), 4-6, 7-5, 3-2 ret.
2. Lene Mari Hovda (SMC) def. Maddy Ferreros (SMC), 6-2, 6-0
3. Olivia Rook (SMC) def. Tsveti Yotova (SAC), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
4. Stefanie Silva (SMC) def. Weronika Ejsmont (SMC), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. TianYu Dong (SMC) def. Julia Moraes (SAC), 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 ^
6. Grace McSkimming (SAC) def. Jamie Pope (SMC), 7-5, 6-4

 
Order of Finish – 2, 3, 6, 5^,1, 4
^ Clinched overall win
 
 
NEXT UP
The Gaels are back in action tomorrow as they head to Palo Alto to face Stanford at 12 PM.