FARMINGTON, Utah (Jan. 14, 2026) – The Big Sky Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll tabbed Sacramento State to win the conference in 2026, as the Hornets look to three-peat in their final season as members of the league. The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.
The Hornets received 64 points in Wednesday's coaches' poll, while earning eight first-place votes.
Sacramento State returns All-Big Sky First Team selection and tournament MVP Reese Walker to the roster in 2026, alongside All-Big Sky honorees Lou Baudouin, Elena Mercioiu, Emilija Pranyte, and Palina Saulevich.
Sacramento State finished last season with a 21-4 overall record and 7-1 mark in Big Sky play, as the Hornets went on to win the tournament title in Phoenix with back-to-back 4-0 victories over Idaho and Northern Arizona.
Northern Arizona, who won the 2025 regular-season title, was tabbed second in the 2026 preseason poll and received one first-place vote.
The 2026 Big Sky Conference Women’s Tennis Championship will take place April 23-25 in Phoenix, Arizona. The single-elimination tournament will feature six teams, with the top two seeds receiving a bye into the semifinal round. The winner of the championship will receive the Big Sky's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament.
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2026 Big Sky Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Sacramento State (8) – 64
2. Northern Arizona (1) – 56
3. Idaho – 50
4. Montana State – 39
5. Idaho State – 35
6. Montana – 26
7. Portland State – 24
8. Eastern Washington – 19
9. Weber State – 11
Parenthesis denotes first-place vote