Karnaukhova, who is ranked 42nd in Div. I, knocked off ninth-ranked Agata Cioroch of Georgia. Cioroch, who was playing on her home court and advanced to the semifinals in 2003, entered the match with a 23-8 overall record. The senior won the first set, 6-4, before Karnaukhova began her comeback with a 6-3 win in the second set. Karnaukhova completed the victory with a 6-4 win in the third set. In the final set, each player held serve through the first two games before Karnaukhova was able to break for a 2-1 advantage. She pushed her lead to 4-3 and then won two of the final three games to earn the win.

With the win, she will face Old Dominion’s Nataly Cahana on Tuesday. Cahana, who is ranked 30th, advanced with a 7-5, 6-2, win over LSU’s Jessica Ferguson.

Erikson, who is ranked 43rd, had her stellar freshman campaign come to a close with the loss to Erin Hoe of Washington. The 64th-ranked Hoe jumped ahead with a 6-2 win in the first set only to have Erikson win the second set, 6-3. Hoe pulled ahead in the third set by winning the first three games before Erikson broke back to make the score, 3-2. Hoe closed out the match by winning three of the final four games.

Karnaukhova and Erikson were the first two Sacramento State tennis players in program history to compete in the NCAA Singles Tournament.

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