MELIUK RECEIVES THIRD BIG SKY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD

3/25/2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State freshman Maria Meliuk was named the Big Sky Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week for the third time this season after leading the Hornets to 3-0 record last week.

Meliuk, who also earned the award on Feb. 10 and Feb. 24, is one of three Hornets to garner the award this season. In fact, a Sacramento State player has been named Big Sky Player of the Week five times in nine weeks as seniors Luba Schifris (Feb. 17) and Joyce Martinez Gutierrez (Jan. 27) also received the honor.

Meliuk posted a perfect 3-0 record in singles action last week, including victories over opponents from Northern Colorado and Portland State at the No. 1 singles position.

The Minsk, Belarus, native started the week with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Tabatha Knop of Northern Colorado. Megan Sporndli of Portland was Meliuk’s next victim on Saturday, as she won once again 6-3, 6-1. Meliuk finished the weekend with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Portland State’s Molly Knox, to round out a 3-0 week in singles action. In three singles matches, she dropped a combined nine games. Meliuk also posted a 2-0 record at No. 2 doubles with partner Aileen Tsan.

She is now 12-3 in singles play this season, including 4-0 at No. 1, 4-2 at No. 2 and 4-1 at No. 3 in the Hornets’ lineup. In addition, she is 11-2 in doubles play with Tsan.

Despite a rash of injuries, Sacramento State (12-5, 5-0) has won five of its last six matches and returns to action this weekend when the team travels to the Grand Canyon State to take on 62nd ranked Arizona on Friday, and 20th ranked Arizona State on Saturday. The Hornets are currently ranked 39th.