OGDEN, Utah -- The Sacramento State men''s and women''s tennis teams will both receive first round byes at the Big Sky Conference Championships, this Friday through Sunday, hosted by Montana State. Both squads earned the conference''s No. 1 seed after winning their respective Big Sky Pacific Regional.The men''s team will look to defend its 2001 Big Sky Championship. Sacramento State has won three of the past four championships (1998-99, 2001) and has been to the NCAA Tournament twice (1999, 2001). The Hornets are 10-10 overall and 4-0 in the Big Sky.
Sacramento State will play Weber State in the semifinals on Saturday, April 27, at 2 p.m. MDT. The Hornets are led by senior Sherif Zaher and freshman Ali Abbou. Zaher, the reigning Big Sky MVP, is currently 12-7 at the No. 1 singles position. Abbou, a native of Tunis, Tunisia, leads the team with a 13-7 record in singles play.
The women''s team will be in search of its first Big Sky Championship. The Hornets have never been to the conference tournament and are looking to cap the most successful season in school history with a conference title. Sacramento State is currently 18-3 overall and 4-0 in the Big Sky. The team is led by freshman Amanda Sanches (19-2) and junior Marta Gronowicz (15-5) in singles play. The women will face the winner of the Montana/Weber State match on Saturday, April 27, at 2 p.m. MDT.
Semifinal winners on both brackets will play for the championship on Sunday, April 28, at 10 a.m. MDT. The Big Sky champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will get underway May 11-12. Match times and team pairings will be announced by the NCAA on Thursday, May 2.
