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OGDEN, Utah (Jan. 7, 2014) - Sacramento State’s decorated tennis teams were chosen by the Big Sky Conference coaches to repeat as champions.
The Sacramento State women’s team was a unanimous pick in preseason polls, while the men garnered all but two first-place votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The powerhouse Hornet women’s program received 10 first-place votes and 100 total points. Sacramento State has won 12 consecutive Big Sky women’s titles and 105 consecutive matches over league competition (regular and postseason duals included).
The Sacramento State men received nine first-place votes and 98 total points. Sacramento State has won six of the last seven championships, and 11 since joining the league in the 1996-97 season.
The Hornet women lost four-time All-Big Sky pick and the 2013 MVP Rebeca Delgado to graduation, but return two sophomore All-Big Sky picks, Jennifer Nguyen and Olivia Boija. Sacramento State finished the 2013 season with a 13-14 overall record. The Hornets beat Montana 4-1 to secure the 2013 title.
Montana was selected second with 91 points and a first-place vote. Northern Arizona came in third with 79 points, followed by Northern Colorado with 68 points. Southern Utah was selected fifth with 66 points, followed by Montana State with 61 points. Eastern Washington was selected seventh with 41 points. Portland State, Weber State, Idaho State and North Dakota round out the women’s poll.
The Sacramento State men finished 17-13 in 2013, beating Montana for the Big Sky championship 4-1. The Hornet men return two Big Sky first-team selections in Sean Kolar and the 2013 co-MVP Marek Marksoo.
Montana was selected second on the men’s side with 90 points and two first-place votes after making it to the Big Sky championship match last season. Montana State was third with 78 points, followed by Weber State which was selected fourth with 73 points. Idaho State rounded out the top five with 67 points. Eastern Washington was selected sixth with 54 points, followed by Northern Colorado in seventh with 43 points. Northern Arizona, Portland State, North Dakota and Southern Utah round out the men’s poll.
The 2013 season begins this week with the men beginning matches January 11. The women begin with matches starting January 17.
The 2014 Big Sky Tennis Championship will be held April 25-27 in Sacramento, Calif. The top six men’s and women’s teams from the regular-season standings will advance to the championship.
|
Men's Poll |
Women's Poll |
|
|
Team |
Points |
Team |
Points |
|
|
1. Sacramento State |
98 (9) |
1. Sacramento State |
100 (10) |
|
|
2. Montana |
90 (2) |
2. Montana |
91 (1) |
|
|
3. Montana State |
78 |
3. Northern Arizona |
79 |
|
|
4. Weber State |
73 |
4. Northern Colorado |
68 |
|
|
5. Idaho State |
67 |
5. Southern Utah |
66 |
|
|
6. Eastern Washington |
54 |
6. Montana State |
61 |
|
|
7. Northern Colorado |
43 |
7. Eastern Washington |
41 |
|
|
8. Northern Arizona |
37 |
8. Portland State |
33 |
|
|
9. Portland State |
34 |
9. Weber State |
28 |
|
|
10. North Dakota |
21 |
10. Idaho State |
26 |
|
|
11. Southern Utah |
10 |
11. North Dakota |
12 |
|
|
Number of first-place votes in parentheses |
|