HARBATSIUK RECEIVES SEVENTH CAREER BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD

3/16/2011

Senior Kiryl Harbatsiuk has won 13 straight singles matches dating back to January

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State senior Kiryl Harbatsiuk was named the Big Sky Conference’s Men’s Tennis Player of the Week today after leading the Hornets to a 3-0 record last week. The weekly honor was the first of the season for Harbatsiuk and seventh of his four-year career.

The Minsk, Belarus native went a perfect 3-0 at No. 1 singles, and 2-0 at No. 1 doubles as the Hornets posted victories over UT Arlington, Nevada and league opponent Montana State.

In three singles matches, he combined to drop just eight games, handily defeating all three opponents. He also won both his doubles matches in convincing fashion.

Currently ranked as the 29th-best singles player in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Harbatsiuk posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over UT Arlington’s Mindaugas Celedinas, a 6-1, 6-1 win over Montana State’s Pawel Turzanksi, and a 6-0, 6-2 victory against Nevada’s Wessim Derbel.

As part of the Hornets’ No. 1 doubles team, he combined with teammate Marko Starcevic to post wins over tandems from UT Arlington (8-3) and Montana State (8-4).

A two-time Big Sky MVP and three-time first team all-conference selection, Harbatsiuk has now won 13 straight singles matches (all at No. 1), and is 13-2 this year. In doubles play, he is 8-3, including an 8-1 record with Starcevic. The tandem of Harbatsiuk and Starcevic have won five straight doubles matches.

Sacramento State (7-8, 4-0) plays later today against Northern Colorado at 1 p.m. The match will be played at the Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center.