The UC Irvine men's and Long Beach State women's tennis teams sit on the cusp of earning regular season championships, but face the same obstacles as both schools play Pacific and UC Davis this week.
   
Two wins by the Anteaters would give them their second straight regular season championship after sharing that distinction with UC Santa Barbara in 2008.  UC Irvine takes a 2-0 league mark into Friday's home match with UC Davis.  UCI, which is ranked No. 67 nationally this week, follows up with a Saturday contest against No. 52 ranked Pacific.  The Tigers are sporting their highest ranking ever from the International Tennis Association.   
   
UCI also would wrap up the No. 1 seed for the Big West Tournament with a pair of wins.  Tournament action takes place April 16-19 at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.  Conversely, Pacific aims to capitalize on an opportunity for a No. 1 seed.  The Tigers would accomplish that by defeating UCI and then UC Riverside on Sunday.  They also would clinch at least a share of the regular season title with two victories.
   
The women's race features league-leading Long Beach State, which is 6-0 in Big West play.  The 49ers have won 17 straight Big West regular season matches dating back to the 2007 season.  LBSU is searching for its third regular season crown in four years.  With wins against the Tigers and Aggies, LBSU also earns the No. 1 seed at the Big West Tournament.  The 49ers have captured five straight Big West Tournament titles and have never lost a match at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in 12 tries.  The UCI women could still slip in as the No. 1 seed, but need LBSU to lose twice to open the door for that possibility.