NO. 45 WOMEN'S TENNIS RUNS BIG SKY STREAK TO 64 STRAIGHT WITH 7-0 WIN AT NORTHERN COLORADO

3/20/2010

GREELEY, Colo. - The No. 45 ranked Sacramento State women's tennis team improved to 2-0 on the season in Big Sky Conference play and won their 64th straight match against a Big Sky opponent, defeating Northern Colorado by a score of 7-0 on Saturday, March 20.

With the victory, the Hornets improve to 10-5, 2-0 in Big Sky play, while the Bears fall to 1-7, 1-3 in the Big Sky.

Sacramento State swept the doubles point, and won all six singles matches to take home a 7-0 victory and extend their streak, which dates back to 2002. The closest match of the day came at No. 5 singles, as junior Milica Zivanovic and Jill Kappel of the Bears posted the only match to go three sets, with Zivanovic winning in a super-tiebreak 6-1, 2-6, 1-0 (10-5).

Sophomore Clarisse Baca won her fourth straight match, defeating Jenny Whateley by a score of 6-0, 6-1 in No. 3 singles action. Freshman Gayane Sarkisian picked up the first spring victory of her career in her first dual match, defeating Hannah LaForest in No. 6 singles by a score of 6-3, 7-5.

After having her eight match win streak end on Friday against California, senior Aileen Tsan fought back to defeat Luiza Xavier at No. 4 singles 6-1, 6-0. Another dubious streak ended for the Hornets, as sophomore Maria Meliuk, who had struggled to start the spring season, picked up her first victory, defeating Tiffany Knop at the No. 2 position 6-3, 6-1. Sophomore Tatsiana Kapshai, who nearly upset the No. 2 ranked player in the country on Friday, defeated Tabatha Knop at No. 1 singles 6-3, 7-5 to round out the singles action.

Sacramento State continues Big Sky play on Sunday as they travel to Montana State.

#45 Sacramento State 7, Northern Colorado 0
Mar 20, 2010 at Greeley, Colo. (Work Out West)

Singles competition
1. KAPSHAI, Tatsiana (SAC) def. Tabatha Knop (NC-W) 6-3, 7-5
2. MELIUK, Maria (SAC) def. Tiffany Knop (NC-W) 6-3, 6-1
3. BACA, Clarisse (SAC) def. Jenny Whateley (NC-W) 6-0, 6-1
4. TSAN, Aileen (SAC) def. Luiza Xavier (NC-W) 6-1, 6-0
5. ZIVANOVIC, Milica (SAC) def. Jill Kappel (NC-W) 6-1, 2-6, 1-0 (10-5)
6. SARKISIAN, Gayane (SAC) def. Hannah LaForest (NC-W) 6-3, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. KAPSHAI, Tatsiana/BACA, Clarisse (SAC) def. Tabatha Knop/Tiffany Knop (NC-W) 8-4
2. MELIUK, Maria/TSAN, Aileen (SAC) def. Jenny Whateley/Luiza Xavier (NC-W) 8-2
3. ZIVANOVIC, Milica/SARKISIAN, Gayane (SAC) def. Hannah LaForest/Jill Kappel (NC-W) 8-6

Match Notes
Sacramento State 10-5, 2-0; National ranking #45
Northern Colorado 1-7, 1-3