SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- For the third time this season, Sacramento

State junior Sherif Zaher was named Big Sky Conference Tennis Player

of the Week after leading the Hornets to victories over Nevada and

Idaho last week.

Zaher, who also received the award on March 13 and March 20, posted a

2-0 record at both the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles slot. The

Cairo, Egypt, native won each of his singles matches in straight

sets, defeating Nevada's Chad Stoloff (6-4, 6-3) and Idaho's Amod

Wakalkar (6-2, 6-0).

He teamed with Joseph Gilbert to win both doubles matches by the

scores of 8-4 and 8-6. Zaher is now 15-4 in singles play and has won

12 of his last 14 matches. In doubles play, the tandem of Zaher and

Gilbert, who are now 15-3 this year, have won five straight and 14 of

their past 15 matches.

The Hornets, who have won six straight and are 18-2 overall this

season, have now claimed six of the eight conference player of week

honors this season. Junior Fabio Jesus (Feb. 28) and seniors Chris

Smith (March 6) and Kevin Vieira (April 4) have each been awarded the

honor.

Sacramento State will look to win its third Big Sky championship in

the last four years this weekend. The conference championship takes

place this Friday-Sunday, April 20-22, at Rio Del Oro Racquet Club in

Sacramento.