WOMEN'S TENNIS FINISHES BIG SKY PLAY 8-0 AFTER 6-1 VICTORY OVER NORTHERN COLORADO

3/31/2008

GREELEY, Colo. - The No. 46 ranked Sacramento State women's tennis team finished Big Sky Conference play 8-0, after posting a 6-1 victory over Northern Colorado on Monday, March 31 at Work Out West.

With the victory, the Hornets overall record improves to 16-4, while the Bears fall to 4-10, 1-5 inside of the Big Sky.

The Hornets started the day by winning the doubles point, posting victories in the first two matches to finish. The junior tandem of Luba Schifris and Karina Jarlkaganova took down Jodi Ciarvella and Karen Groll at No. 2 doubles 8-2, and the team of sophomore Aileen Tsan and junior Anastassia Lyssenko defeated Tiffany Knop and Luiza Xavier at No. 3 doubles by the same margin.

The Hornets then took home five of the six singles matches, which were not started simultaneously due to the number of indoor courts. Schifris collected a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Manuela Santos at No. 2 singles to pace the Hornet charge, while Lyssenko remained perfect on the week, improving her conference record to 7-1 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Tiffany Knop at No. 3 singles. At the No. 4 position, Jarlkaganova defeated Groll 6-1, 6-0, while junior Joyce Martinez Gutierrez took down Xavier 6-1, 6-0.

Tsan defeated Ciarvella 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6 singles, completing a perfect 8-0 Big Sky Conference season at No. 6 singles for the native of Sarawak, Malaysia.

With the perfect 8-0 mark, the Hornets have now won 48 straight Big Sky matches dating back to 2002, and will be the No. 1 seed in the Big Sky Tournament in their quest to win their seventh straight title.

Prior to the Big Sky Championships, the Hornets still have four non-conference tilts, with their next action coming at home against San Francisco on Saturday, April 5. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. against the Dons at the Rio Del Oro Raquet Club, home of Hornet Tennis.

#46 Sacramento State 6, Northern Colorado 1

Singles competition
1. Tabatha Knop (UNCO) def. Melissa Valenzuela (SAC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. Luba Schifris (SAC) def. Manuela Santos (UNCO) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
3. Anastassia Lyssenko (SAC) def. Tiffany Knop (UNCO) 6-3, 6-2
4. Karina Jarlkaganova (SAC) def. Karen Groll (UNCO) 6-1, 6-0
5. Joyce Martinez (SAC) def. Luiza Xavier (UNCO) 6-1, 6-0
6. Aileen Tsan (SAC) def. Jodi Ciarvella (UNCO) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Manuela Santos/Tabatha Knop (UNCO) def. Melissa Valenzuela/Joyce Martinez (SAC) 8-4
2. Luba Schifris/Karina Jarlkaganova (SAC) def. Jodi Ciarvella/Karen Groll (UNCO) 8-2
3. Aileen Tsan/Anastassia Lyssenko (SAC) def. Tiffany Knop/Luiza Xavier (UNCO) 8-2

Match Notes:
Sacramento State 16-4 (8-0 BSC); National ranking #46
Northern Colorado 4-10 (1-5 BSC)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,3,2,1,6,5)