Katrina Zheltova and the Sacramento State Hornets begin the quest for a ninth straight Big Sky Championship on Saturday.
The Sacramento State men's and women's tennis teams both enter this week's Big Sky Conference Tennis Championship as No. 1 seeds, and looking to repeat.
The Sacramento State women finished 8-0 in conference. The Hornets have won 70 consecutive matches over conference foes, and are gunning for their ninth straight league championship.
Sacramento State will open the championship on Saturday in the semifinals at 10 a.m. against No. 4 seed Montana State. The Bobcats (5-3). secured a spot in the championship with a 4-3 victory over Eastern Washington on Saturday.
Sacramento State clinched the No. 1 seed and regular-season title with a 6-1 win over Northern Arizona on Saturday in Flagstaff. Both squads entered the match undefeated in Big Sky play.
In the other semifinal, No. 2 Northern Arizona (7-1) meets No. 3 seed Montana (6-2).
The men's semifinals are slated to start at 2 p.m with Sacramento State meeting Montana, and Northern Arizona battling Weber State.
No. 1 Sacramento State (7-1) is seeking its second straight title, third in four seasons, and eighth since 1998. The Hornets will meet No. 4 seed Montana (6-2). Montana won conference matches over Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado and Montana State last weekend, to forge a three-way tie with Northern Arizona and Weber State for second place.
Northern Arizona (6-2) earned the No. 2 seed thanks to an early-season home win over Sacramento State. Weber State (6-2) gained the No. 3 seed because of a head-to-head win over Montana.
The women's championship is at 10 a.m. on Sunday, followed by the men at 2 p.m.
All matches will be played at Sacramento's Gold River Racquet Club.
2010 Men's and Women's Tennis Championship
The 2010 Men's and Women's Big Sky Conference Tennis Championship will be held April 24-25 in Sacramento, Calif. This will be the fourth straight year the tournament will be held at the Gold River Raquet Club.
The top four men's and women's teams from the regular-season standings will advance to the championship.
PDF of 2010 Bracket
2010 Big Sky Championship Schedule
WOMEN'S
Saturday, April 24
Semifinals, 10 a.m.
No. 4 Montana State (5-3, 8-10) vs. No. 1 Sacramento State (8-0, 17-6)
No. 3 Montana (6-2, 10-4) vs. No. 2 Northern Arizona (7-1, 12-6)
Sunday, April 25
Championship, 10 a.m.
Semifinals Winners
MEN's
Saturday, April 24
Semifinals, 2 p.m.
No. 4 Montana (6-2, 9-6) vs. No. 1 Sacramento State (7-1, 15-11)
No. 3 Weber State (6-2, 10-12) vs. No. 2 Northern Arizona (6-2, 12-8)
Sunday, April 25
Championship, 2 p.m.
Semifinals Winners