Plenty of women's tennis conference matches are on tap this week, highlighted by a matchup between the two programs which have combined to win the last four Big West regular season championships. Long Beach State, winners of its last 19 matches against Big West opponents, hosts UC Irvine on Saturday. The 49ers attempt to first extend their win streak to 20 when they travel to UC Riverside on Friday.
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UC Irvine, Long Beach State Showdown Highlights Week Of Women’s Conference Battles
It’s a busy week of Big West women’s tennis conference matchups - five on the ledger - but none more intense than the rivalry between UC Irvine and Long Beach State.
Long Beach State has won 19 straight regular season matches against Big West opponents entering this week. The 49ers attempt to extend the streak to 20 when they travel to UC Riverside for a match on Friday. LBSU then hosts UCI on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
The last time the 49ers lost a Big West regular season match was in 2007. That year, UC Irvine handed the 49ers a 4-3 defeat. UCI went on to win the 2007 regular season title. LBSU has won back-to-back regular season crowns in 2008 and 2009 with unblemished 8-0 records. The 49ers have mostly had their way with the Anteaters in recent years, winning 12 of the last 14 encounters dating back to 2002.
UCI is 3-2 on the season and owns a national ranking of No. 48 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. LBSU is 3-1 and No. 50 in the ITA poll. Both the Anteaters and 49ers have defeated one ranked opponent this season in San Diego State. UCI secured an important victory in its Big West opener last Saturday when it defeated a tough Cal Poly squad, 4-3. Long Beach State, UC Irvine and Cal Poly are regarded as three of the top contenders for this year’s women’s tennis title.
Other women’s tennis conference matchups this week include Cal State Northridge at Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly at Cal State Fullerton, and Cal Poly at Cal State Northridge.
Men’s Ledger Packed With Ranked Opponents
This week’s men’s tennis schedule features four non-conference matches against teams ranked in the ITA top 75. UC Irvine claimed a crucial 4-3 victory against No. 70 UC Santa Barbara in its Big West opener on Sunday to move to a league-best 5-2 on the year. Four of the Anteaters’ five wins have come by a 4-3 score. The Anteaters and Gauchos met in last year’s final of the Big West Men’s Tennis Championship in Indian Wells, with UCSB earning a 4-2 victory. UCI hopes to draw on the momentum of its recent play to take down No. 74 UNLV on Friday. The Anteaters also host Nevada on Saturday before hitting the road to tackle No. 3 UCLA next Tuesday.
In other matchups, Cal Poly battles No. 50 Arkansas in a neutral site match in Eugene, Ore. The Mustangs may be the best 0-4 team in the entire country. They have faced three ranked opponents, including two in the top 25, and have given each foe fits. Although they haven’t dented the win column, CP hopes to do so this week against the Razorbacks as well as host Oregon. Pacific also looks for its first win of the year when it travels to Saint Mary’s. UCSB went 1-1 last week in conference play, defeating UC Riverside before suffering the setback to UCI. The Gauchos hope to rebound with a road match against No. 54 San Diego State. UC Riverside, 3-3 on the year, hosts Nevada.
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.