Fresno, Calif.----- San Jose State University senior Miyo Kobayashi became the school's all-time leader in career victories as the Spartans defeated Fresno State for the first time in women's tennis, 4-3, in a Mountain West conference contest.
San Jose State's team win was its first in 20 matches against the Bulldogs dating back to the previous century when the series began and ended a recent three-match losing streak.
The Spartans (8-7, 1-2 Mountain West) emerged with the team victory capturing the last two singles match. Freshman Alba Pedrero Galindo was a straight-set winner at #3-singles over A.C. Hummel of Fresno State, 7-6, 6-1 to tie the score at 3-3.
Klara Milojkovic, the team's most successful singles player in dual match action this spring, extended her dual match singles record to 10-2 with a 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Deniza Marcinkevica at #6-singles to win the match for San Jose State. Her triumph was the only three-set match among the six singles contests.
"Match point was amazing," ," said San Jose State women's tennis head coach Chad Skorupka about his first-year player who is 3-0 in three-set matches this spring. Milojkovic is the only undefeated San Jose State singles player in three-set matches.
"Klara is running down the ball. The ball was so low and Klara hits an amazing flat, forehand cross court winner. The (Fresno State) girl doesn't even move for it, because nobody thought it was going in. She (Klara) rips the ball cross court. Game over, match.
"I've never seen a shot like that. It was on a dead run. It was like, 'wow.'"
The Spartans trailed, 1-0, after doubles. Despite Kobayashi and Laura Malsert teaming at #2 for a win, San Jose State lost the other two doubles matches. Kobayashi picked up her 143rd combined singles and doubles win to pass former teammate and eight-time All-Mountain West honoree Marie Klocker, who had 142 wins between the 2014 and 2017 seasons.
"It's an honor, because my former teammate, Marie (Klocker) had the record at 142. I didn't contribute to (today's) win directly, but it was nice being part of today's win. Klara (Milojkovic) did a good job finishing off the match," said Kobayashi about the day.
"It's amazing. There are a lot of good players that have come through this program. It speaks volumes of what she's accomplished. She'll leave a champion. It's been a quick four years and she still has some big matches to go," Skorupka said about the program's new career wins leader.
Malsert was the Spartans' only player to win in singles and doubles. Her singles victory over Ella Husrefovic, 6-3, 7-5, at #5-singles closed San Jose State's deficit to 2-1.
Tamara Culibrk tied the score for the Spartans at 2-2 with her straight-set win, 6-3, 6-4 over Jennifer Timotin at #1-singles.
"It (the win) gives us good momentum going into our last two matches.
San Jose State is in action next, Wednesday, April 17, at Sacramento State, in a 1:00 p.m. non-conference dual match.
San Jose State University women's tennis
San Jose State at Fresno State
Mountain West match
Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center, Fresno, Calif.
April 12, 2019
Final score: San Jose State (SJSU) 4, Fresno State (FS) 3
| Doubles |
| Georgia Lawson & Jennifer Timotin (FS) def. Tamara Culibrk & Savannah Sendar (SJSU), 7-5 |
| Miyo Kobayashi & Laura Malsert (SJSU) def. Ella Husrefovic & Deniza Marcinkevica (FS), 7-5 |
| Shir Azran & A.C. Hummel (FS) def. Alba Pedrero Galindo & Mathilda Vidgren (SJSU), 6-3 |
| Order of finish: 3,2,1. |
| Singles |
| Tamara Culibrk (SJSU) def. Jennifer Timotin (FS), 6-3, 6-4 |
| Shir Azran (FS) def. Miyo Kobayashi (SJSU), 6-3, 7-5 |
| Alba Pedrero Galindo (SJSU) def. A.C. Hummel (FS), 7-6, 6-1 |
| Georgia Lawson (FS) def. Savannah Sendar (SJSU), 6-0, 6-2 |
| Laura Malsert (SJSU) def. Ella Husrefovic (FS), 6-3, 7-5 |
| Klara Milojkovic (SJSU) def. Deniza Marcinkevica (FS), 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 |
| Order of finish: 4,5,1,2,3,6. |
| Team records: San Jose State – 8-7, 1-2 Mountain West |
| Fresno State – 8-11, 0-3 Mountain West |