WOMEN'S TENNIS IMPROVES TO 2-0 IN CONFERENCE WITH 7-0 VICTORY OVER NORTHERN ARIZONA

2/15/2009

GOLD RIVER, Calif. - The No. 43 ranked Sacramento State women's tennis team improved to 2-0 in Big Sky Conference play with a 7-0 victory over Northern Arizona on Sunday, February 15 at the Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 5-0 overall, and won their 54th straight Big Sky contest, while the Lumberjacks fall to 0-4, 0-1 inside of the Big Sky. The match was contested indoors due to high winds and rain in the Sacramento area.

For the fifth time this season, Sacramento State took the doubles point, recording their fourth doubles sweep. The No. 1 doubles tandem of sophomore Melissa Valenzuela and junior Katrina Zheltova improved to 5-0 on the season with an 8-6 victory over Edit Suhajda and Kim Van Ginkel. At No. 2 doubles, redshirt freshman Clarisse Baca and senior Joyce Martinez Gutierrez also improved to 5-0 on the season with an 8-3 triumph over Orsi Golovics and Stacey Pinchbeck.

The No. 3 doubles tandem of freshman Maria Meliuk and junior Aileen Tsan completed the sweep, defeating Yumi Hasegawa and Aimee Oki 8-4.

Senior Luba Schifris started singles off strongly, posting a 6-0, 6-0 victory at the No. 3 position over Golovics. Zheltova, the No. 58 ranked player in the nation, followed quickly after with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Kim Van Ginkel at No. 1 singles.

No. 6 singles was the next match to finish, with Valenzuela sealing the Hornet victory with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Oki. Martinez Gutierrez then brought home a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles over Hasegawa to increase the Hornet lead to 5-0.

The final two matches of the day went to three sets, with Meliuk taking home a 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8) victory over Suhajda at the No. 2 position and Baca posted a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2) win over Pinchbeck at No. 4 singles.

The six Hornet players who competed in singles play iin the match have now posted a 27-0 combined record on the season.

Sacramento State returns to action on February 20 as they travel to No. 36 Washington. First serve is set for 1 p.m.

#43 Sacramento State 7, Northern Arizona 0
Feb 15, 2009 at Gold River, Calif. (Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. #58 Katrina Zheltova (SAC) def. Kim Van Ginkel (NAU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Maria Meliuk (SAC) def. Edit Suhajda (NAU) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8)
3. Luba Schifris (SAC) def. Orsi Golovics (NAU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Clarisse Baca (SAC) def. Stacey Pinchbeck (NAU) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2)
5. Joyce Martinez Gutierrez (SAC) def. Yumi Hasegawa (NAU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Melissa Valenzuela (SAC) def. Aimee Oki (NAU) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Valenzuela/Zheltova (SAC) def. Van Ginkel/Suhajda (NAU) 8-6
2. Baca/Martinez Gutierrez (SAC) def. Golovics/Pinchbeck (NAU) 8-3
3. Meliuk/ Aileen Tsan (SAC) def. Oki/Hasegawa (NAU) 8-4

Match Notes
Northern Arizona 0-2
Sacramento State 5-0; National ranking #43
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,1,6,5,2,4)