Karnaukhova, who was named the Big Sky Conference Most Valuable Player for the second-straight season earlier today, is currently ranked 42nd in Div. I in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll. The sophomore ended the regular season with an overall record of 20-3, all at the No. 1 position in the lineup. During the year, she recorded four victories over ranked opponents, including a 7-5, 6-1, win over Fresno State’s Jelena Pandzic who was ranked 14th at the time.

All 20 of Karnaukhova’s victories during the spring came in straight sets. The Krasnodar, Russia, native is currently riding a 17-match win streak and has dropped just three games over her last five contests.

Erikson, who is ranked 43rd in Div. I, was named first team all-Big Sky Conference after going 19-1 during the spring. The freshman posted a 4-1 mark against ranked opponents, including a three-set victory over Washington’s Claire Carter who was ranked 33rd. Erikson’s only loss came against Oregon’s Dominika Dieskova (ranked 71st). Since that defeat, she has won 18-consecutive matches.

During the fall, the Stockholm, Sweden, native became the first Sacramento State player to ever reach the main draw of the Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships.

The NCAA Championship field is comprised of four automatic selections from each of the five regions. The remaining 44 bids are given to at-large selections. The West Region and the South Region each had 18 at-large selections, tying for the most. Sacramento State joins Stanford (five), Washington (three), Cal (two), Oregon (two), UCLA (two) and USC (two) as the only teams in the West to have multiple selections to the tournament.

Weber State’s Lenka Zacharova is the only other Big Sky athlete to ever compete in the NCAA Tournament. Zacharova recorded a first-round victory before losing in the round of 32 in 2001.

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