Stanford Women's Tennis Edges Sacramento State in Tight Match

No. 11 Cardinal clinch 4-3 victory with freshman Monika Ekstrand's gritty singles win

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In a close match on Monday, No. 11 Stanford women's tennis defeated Sacramento State 4-3 at home. The Cardinal took the doubles point before winning three singles matches, including a clutch performance by freshman Monika Ekstrand to clinch the victory for Stanford.

Why it matters

This match highlighted the intensity and pressure of team tennis at the college level, as Stanford had to overcome injuries and a determined Sacramento State squad to secure the win. The outcome could have major implications for both teams' seasons going forward.

The details

Stanford took the doubles point as Caroline Driscoll/Monika Ekstrand, Alyssa Ahn/Tianmei Wang, and Sein Myoung/Morgan Shaffer each won their sets. In singles, Caroline Driscoll gave Stanford an early 2-0 lead, but Sacramento State fought back to tie it at 3-3. The deciding match came down to Ekstrand, who rallied from a break down in the third set to defeat Reese Walker and clinch the win for the Cardinal.

  • On Monday, February 9th, 2026, Stanford defeated Sacramento State 4-3 at home.
  • Stanford's next match is on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at UC Santa Barbara.

The players

Monika Ekstrand

A freshman on the Stanford women's tennis team who clinched the victory for the Cardinal with her three-set win in the final singles match.

Frankie Brennan

The head coach of the Stanford women's tennis team.

Reese Walker

The Sacramento State player who faced off against Ekstrand in the decisive singles match.

Palina Saulevich

A Sacramento State player who won her singles match to keep the Hornets in contention.

Alyssa Ahn

A Stanford player who was limited to doubles due to injury but still helped the Cardinal win the doubles point.

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What they’re saying

“Well, I think we've been trying to work on some things, try to get some things more scripted in our attack of the doubles and having more plays. So, in doubles, it looks like it's free flowing, but actually, because it's so short and quick, there's a lot of scripted things as to when you poach, where you hit targets, things like that. So I thought we did a really good job of that today.”

— Frankie Brennan, Stanford Head Coach (on3.com)

“It's like watching an F1 driver. It's like 110 miles an hour, 200 miles an hour. When is she gonna hit the wall and how is she gonna recover? You know? And that's sort of her game is on the edge and we're trying to change that a little bit, but I'll you what's cool about her is she seems to be the same person in every moment, whether that's at like a pro tournament that she's playing or a college event. She's not really caught up in this is on my shoulders. She just wants to play the best tennis she can play and that's what she did today. She's a great competitor, great competitor.”

— Frankie Brennan, Stanford Head Coach (on3.com)

“I think moments like this for sure. And I think also like the pressure that comes from these moments, it's not something that necessarily I would get if I was just playing for myself. Like, I just came from a pro event and you're just out there by yourself, you know? And here like you're playing for something bigger than yourself and I think that definitely adds pressure. So, it's just, but in a good way. Like, a good pressure because you want to win for your team and you want to show up for them. So, it's fun, yeah.”

— Monika Ekstrand, Stanford Freshman (on3.com)

What’s next

Stanford's next match is a road contest against UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, February 14th at noon. That will be their final non-conference match before ACC play begins at home on February 20th against Georgia Tech.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory for Stanford showcases the intensity and drama of team tennis at the college level, where players must balance individual performance with the pressure of competing for their school. The Cardinal's ability to grind out a close win despite injuries demonstrates their resilience and the value of team camaraderie in overcoming adversity.