WOMEN'S TENNIS BLANKS MONTANA TO WIN 11th STRAIGHT BIG SKY TITLE

4/22/2012

Sacramento State won its 11th consecutive Big Sky Tournament title, 4-0, over Montana.

GOLD RIVER, Calif. — Singles victories from seniors Tatsiana Kapsahi, Clarisse Baca and Maria Meliuk propelled the No. 52 ranked Sacramento State women's tennis team to its 11th consecutive Big Sky Conference title on Sunday afternoon at the Gold River Racquet Club. The Hornets used those victories along with a win in doubles to defeat third-seeded Montana, 4-0.

Sacramento State improved to 17-9 overall and earned the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Tournament, which runs from May 17-28, begins with top seeds hosting regionals before the final 16 teams head to the University of Georgia for the final four rounds. The draw for the tournament is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 1, at 3 p.m. PT on ncaa.com.

The team also won its 92nd consecutive match over a Big Sky opponent - a streak that started in 2002 when the current group of freshmen on the team were in first grade. Montana ended its season at 14-8.

The Hornets took control of the match early, cruising to a pair of doubles wins at the top of the lineup. Kapshai and Rebeca Delgado won 8-2 at No. 1. Baca and Meliuk clinched the point with a victory at No. 2 by the same margin.

In singles play, Kapshai dominated at No. 1 with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Heather Davidson. Baca finished closely after with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 3 over Ashley Mackey. The deciding point came at No. 5 where Meliuk bettered Maddy Murray, 6-1, 6-1.

The team has combined to go 46-23 in doubles matches, including a 17-5 record from the combination of Delgado and Kapshai at No. 1. The No. 2 tandem of Meliuk and Baca are 15-7, and have won seven straight matches.

Tennis Match Results
Montana vs Sacramento State
Apr 22, 2012 at Gold River, Calif.
(Gold River Racquet Club)

#52 Sacramento State 4, Montana 0

Singles competition
1. KAPSHAI, Tatsiana (SACW) def. DAVIDSON, Heather (UM) 6-1, 6-0
2. DELGADO, Rebeca (SACW) vs. PELCHAT, Laurence (UM) unfinished
3. BACA, Clarisse (SACW) def. MACKEY, Ashley (UM) 6-2, 6-1
4. LOHSCHEIDT, Sophie (SACW) vs. CARTER, Sasha (UM) unfinished
5. MELIUK, Maria (SACW) def. MURRAY, Maddy (UM) 6-1, 6-1
6. KNOEBL, Katharina (SACW) vs. GBADAMOSI, Precious (UM) unfinished

Doubles competition
1. DELGADO, Rebeca/KAPSHAI, Tatsiana (SACW) def. PELCHAT, Laurence/DAVIDSON, Heather (UM) 8-2
2. BACA, Clarisse/MELIUK, Maria (SACW) def. CARTER, Sasha/MURRAY, Maddy (UM) 8-3
3. KNOEBL, Katharina/LOHSCHEIDT, Sophie (SACW) vs. GBADAMOSI, Precious/GIBSON, Lauren (UM) unfinished

Match Notes
Montana 14-8
Sacramento State 17-9; National ranking #52
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,3,5)