The Cal Poly men and Long Beach State women will enter the 2010 Big West Tennis Championships as the top seeds. The tournament runs from April 29 - May 2 at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The 49ers are attempting to win their seventh straight women's title. UC Santa Barbara seeks its fifth consecutive men's tournament crown.
NOTEWORTHY
Cal Poly Enters Men’s Championship As Top Seed
Cal Poly is the No. 1 seed in the Big West Men’s Tennis Championship after winning the regular season title with a 4-1 record. The top seed is the program’s first since 2007, the same year the Mustangs last claimed the conference’s regular season title.
The Mustangs have won six of their last nine contests going into the tournament at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Cal Poly is seeking its first tournament title. Its best previous finish was second place in 2007. The Mustangs earned a bye into the semifinals and will meet the winner of Friday’s first round match between No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara and No. 5 seed UC Davis at 3:00 p.m. The Gauchos begin their quest for a fifth straight tournament title. Coincidentally, UCSB won the title as the No. 4 seed last season.
No. 2 seed Pacific also received a bye into the semifinals. The Tigers have gained momentum with wins in four straight and five of their last six contess. They meet the winner of Friday’s other first round match between No. 3 UC Irvine and No. 6 UC Riverside at 9:00 a.m.
Both semifinal contests on Saturday, May 1 will begin at 3:00 p.m. The championship match on Sunday, May 2 starts at 9:00 a.m.
Long Beach State Gears Up For Run At Seventh Straight Tourney Crown
Long Beach State aims to capture an unprecedented seventh consecutive Big West Women’s Tennis Championship crown. The 49ers tied UC Santa Barbara (1991-96) for most consecutive tournament titles (6) in Big West history last year. LBSU finished the 2010 regular season undefeated (8-0) for the third year in a row. Since the Big West moved to a round robin format in 2006, the 49ers have posted a sparkling 37-1 record in regular season matches against conference opponents. The 49ers last lost in conference play on March 1, 2007 to UC Irvine.
The 49ers will meet the winner of Thursday’s first round match between No. 8 Cal State Fullerton and No. 9 UC Riverside. The quarterfinal on Friday at 9:00 a.m. will be contested along with No. 2 UC Santa Barbara and No. 7 UC Davis. Other quarterfinal matchups at 3:00 p.m. feature No. 3 UC Irvine against No. 6 Pacific and No. 4 Cal Poly versus No. 5 Cal State Northridge. Both semifinal contests on Saturday, May 1 will begin at 9:00 a.m. The championship match on Sunday, May 2 also starts at 9:00 a.m.
Rankings Review
Three Big West women’s teams are included in the latest Campbell/Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings as Long Beach State is No. 46, Cal Poly No. 61 and UC Irvine No. 69. UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara are ranked No. 54 and No. 60 in the men’s team rankings, respectively. Individually, Stephanie Hammel of UC Irvine (No. 81), Jenifer Widjaja of Pacific (No. 82) and Suzie Matzenauer of Cal Poly (No. 100) are ranked, as is the Cal Poly doubles team of Matzenauer and Brittany Blalock (No. 32).
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.