The top women's tennis teams face formidable challenges this week as Long Beach State and UC Irvine host No. 42 Nebraska and Cal Poly visits No. 11 Stanford. On the men's side, Pacific faces No. 53 Iowa in a sneak preview of the venue hosting the Big West Tennis Championships - the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
NOTEWORTHY
Long Beach State, Cal Poly Have Double-Digit Victories
Long Beach State and Cal Poly have reached the double-digit mark in victories among Big West women’s tennis teams. The 49ers won their fifth consecutive match on Thursday when they toppled No. 57 Minnesota, improving to 11-2 overall. The win over the Golden Gophers was LBSU’s third against a ranked opponent this season. LBSU aims to beat its fourth ranked foe of the year on Friday, hosting No. 42 Nebraska at the Rhodes Tennis Center. The 49ers are 7-1 on a current 11-match homestand.
Cal Poly also has won five straight and owns a 10-2 mark on the year. The most recent Mustang outing netted a 6-1 victory against Michigan State on Mar. 9. After a nine day layoff, the Mustangs return to action on Friday against Utah State and Saturday against Dartmouth to close out a seven-match homestand. Cal Poly is a perfect 5-0 so far on the homestand and undefeated in six contests at Mustang courts.
On the horizon for both the 49ers and Mustangs is a key Big West match on Friday, April 2 in San Luis Obispo. LBSU is 5-0 in Big West play while CP is 5-1.
Pacific Gets Indian Wells Preview
Pacific takes an early visit to the site of the 2010 Big West Tennis Championship this weekend. The Tigers participate in a tournament hosted by Wichita State but played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif. The Big West has hosted its men’s and women’s tennis championship at that facility in each of the last six years. The Tigers are set to play No. 53 Iowa and the host Shockers in two of only three contests on the men’s tennis docket this week. The other contest pits Utah State at Cal Poly.
UC Irvine is the Big West leader in the standings at 2-0 after defeating UC Riverside last week. The Anteaters do not play another conference match until Saturday, April 10 versus Cal Poly at home. The Anteaters are ranked No. 40 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll thanks to winning four straight and eight of their last 10 matches. Second place UC Santa Barbara is 3-1 in the Big West. The Gauchos return to action for the first time since Mar. 1 when they welcome No. 19 Washington next Tuesday.
In The Rankings
The latest edition of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings has four Big West teams rated among the nation’s best on the men’s and women’s side. The Long Beach State women are ranked No. 53, followed by No. 74 UC Irvine and the newest entry in the rankings - No. 75 UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos have won five of their last seven matches, including three versus Big West opponents in UC Davis, Pacific and then-No. 62 UC Irvine. Three women’s players are ranked in singles - No. 77 Stephanie Hammel of UC Irvine, No. 87 Suzie Matzenauer of Cal Poly and No. 91 Jenifer Widjaja of Pacific. The UC Irvine men’s team is the highest ranked of anyone in the Big West at No. 40.
Indian Wells To Host Big West Tennis Championships
For the seventh straight year, Indian Wells Tennis Garden is hosting the Big West Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championship. One of the most prestigious facilities in the United States, Indian Wells will host the six men’s and nine women’s teams from April 29-May 2. The Long Beach State women and UC Santa Barbara men took home the 2009 crowns. The 49ers have won all six previous years the championship has been in Indian Wells, while the Gauchos have captured four straight titles on the men’s side.