2008 Woodie Awards
Women win seventh title
Cameron Ross
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Sports
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They didn't lose a match, posting 4-0 victories over Eastern Washington on Saturday in the semifinals and Northern Arizona on Sunday in the final match.
A sunny day with an occasional breeze provided excellent conditions for tennis as the Hornets gathered on the center tennis court at Gold River Racquet Club for the awards ceremony Sunday.
"This is the best group overall of girls that we've had as far as work ethic and getting schoolwork done and being team players," Director of Tennis at Sac State Bill Campbell said.
Sophomore Katrina Zheltova was the first to win a match both days, continuing her dominance over Big Sky competition.
She is on track for her second consecutive MVP award of the conference. She has been rated as high as No. 36 in the NCAA this season and was ranked No. 48 entering the tournament.
If she wins the MVP award it would be the sixth consecutive Big Sky Conference MVP for Sacramento State.
"She's in a class all by herself up there," Campbell said. "She's got a chance to win the whole thing in the NCAA."
The Hornets had a bye the first day of the tournament because they were the No. 1 seed, thanks to a perfect 8-0 record against teams from the Big Sky this season.
Against Northern Arizona the Hornets were leading 3-0 after taking the doubles point and singles wins from Zheltova and junior co-captain Joyce Martinez Gutierrez.
Junior Anastassia Lyssenko then secured the title with a victory at No. 2 singles.
"I'm glad we won. It's unfortunate I was inured and couldn't participate but we've all been practicing hard and I think the girls did a great job," junior co-captain Luba Schifris said.
Playoffs are scored the same as regular season games but the first team to win four points wins. Remaining matches are ceased since the winner has been declared.
In the match against Eastern Washington on Saturday the Hornets won the doubles point with an 8-1 victory in the No. 1 match and an 8-2 victory in the No. 2 match.
Zheltova teamed with freshman Melissa Valenzuela at No. 1 doubles while Martinez teamed with junior Karina Jarlkaganova in the No. 2 match, since Schifris was injured.
"It was a new thing because I didn't play doubles for half the season so I was nervous, to be honest, but I was excited," Martinez said. "It was nice paying doubles again and I'll try to practice more."
The title is the seventh consecutive for the Hornets, who also extended their streak of victories against conference opponents to 52.
For the seventh consecutive year, they will appear in the NCAA tournament and likely face a top-10 seeded team.
"It's just a good feeling for our coaches, also, because we win for them," Martinez said.
Their record since 2002 is 134-41 after they went 21-6 this season with a tough schedule that included non-Big Sky foes such as UC Berkeley, Stanford, Texas and Pepperdine.
"They're not intimidated by anyone at all," Campbell said.
Cameron Ross can be reached at cross@statehornet.com
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