Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Adalto Nascimento Sac State is hosting the Big Sky Tournament this Friday through Sunday at the Gold River Raquet Club. [Click to enlarge]

The Big Sky Conference Tennis Tournament is just around the corner and Sacramento State's women's tennis team ended the season 8-0 in Big Sky play and 17-8 overall. All of the Big Sky victories were shutouts with scores of 8-0.

Just about everyone on the team is confident that they will win the Big Sky tournament this weekend.

"We have been practicing for the tournament and we're working really hard," said freshman Maria Meliuk. "We are in winning form now."

Bill Campbell, director of tennis, said the Big Sky tournament will be an easy win, but at the same time, it is important for the team to not underestimate its Big Sky opponents.

"We need to make sure we treat the Big Sky tournament matches like any other match," Campbell said. "Other than that, the Big Sky tournament is not a problem for us."

The Hornets have won the Big Sky Tournament every year since 2002.

One of the biggest roadblocks for the Hornets this season was a rash of injuries.

"This year was the worst for injuries," Campbell said. "For years, injuries have never been a problem for us, but it just seemed like they were all crammed into this year."

Earlier in the season, senior Luba Schifris sat out temporarily with knee pains, while fellow senior Joyce Martinez Guiterrez had a wrist injury. Junior Katrina Zheltova was had a cyst in her ovary during the middle of the season and recently she found out that she pulled her groin. Zheltova, along with Schifris and Martinez, are now healthy and active, although Zheltova is still in a lot of pain.

Meliuk scared the team and coaching staff when she had to withdraw from her last singles match against the University of the Pacific, due to back and knee strains.

"It's discouraging to realize that injuries were the only thing that held us back this year," Campbell said.

Campbell said the main task for the team right now is to stay healthy for the Big Sky tournament and for everyone to play to their full potential.

"When it comes to the NCAA tournament, we need to be perfect if we want to advance," Campbell said. "Since the injuries costed us some matches earlier on in the season, we are not ranked as high as we could have been so we have to play tougher teams early in the tournament. Our first victory will be a huge upset if we win."

The Hornets are hosting the Big Sky tournament this Friday through Sunday at the Gold River Racquet Club.


Nick Hunte can be reached at nhunte@statehornet.com

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