Margarita Karnaukhova, who played at Sacramento State from 2003-06, was one of the most decorated women’s tennis athletes in Big Sky history. Karnaukhova was named the Big Sky’s MVP in all four years while at Sacramento State, becoming the first Big Sky student-athlete, male or female, to achieve the feat in any sport. She led Sacramento State to four Big Sky titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances, while becoming the program’s first All-American after advancing to the Round of 16 at the 2004 NCAA Singles Tournament. 
 
Over the course of her four-year career with the Hornets, Karnaukhova earned a 66-17 singles record at the No. 1 spot and never lost to a Big Sky opponent in her stellar career. She ranked as high as 14^th overall in the nation in singles play, which she was a part of for most of her collegiate career. 
 
Karnaukhova was ranked sixth on the Big Sky Conference's list of "25 Greatest Female Athletes of All-Time back in 2014, while being inducted into Sacramento State’s Hall of Fame in 2020. The native of Krasnodar, Russia, currently resides in Sacramento.