Fresno State Athletics
No. 16 Fresno State Readies For NCAA Tournament
5/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 3, 2004
Weekly Notes
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Next Up...
NCAA Tournament
May 14-16
Various Campus Sites*
Matchups and regional sites will be announced Wednesday
What's Coming Up
No. 15 Fresno State (20-3) will participate in the NCAA Tournament this year. That was guaranteed after the Bulldogs won their third consecutive WAC title last weekend, clinching a berth in the NCAA's. It marks the ninth year in a row Fresno State will play in the tournament, which begins May 14 or 15 at various campus sites around the nation.
What Just Happened
The Bulldogs claimed the WAC Tournament title for a third year in a row with a 4-2 victory over No. 42 SMU on Sunday. Lucia Sainz defeated former Bulldog Lynsie Jones 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-4 to clinch the win, Fresno State's 14th in its last 15 matches.
Several Bulldogs Earn All-WAC Honors
In addition to winning the league title, Fresno State placed several players on this year's All-WAC team, including Jelena Pandzic being named the WAC Player of the Year, making it four consecutive years a Fresno State player has earned league top player honors. Here is a rundown of the awards earned by the Bulldogs:
- Jelena Pandzic: WAC Player of the Year; WAC Freshman of the Year; first-team All-WAC in singles and doubles
- Lucia Tallo: First-team All-WAC in singles and doubles
- Katharina Winterhalter: Second-team All-WAC in singles and doubles
- Lucia Sainz: Second-team All-WAC in doubles
- Simon Thibodeau: WAC Coach of the Year
NCAA Tournament History
The Bulldogs will be competing in their ninth NCAA Tournament in a row. They have advanced to at least the second round, but no farther than that, for five consecutive years, with their farthest advancement coming in 1999, when the team reached the round of 16. Fresno State is 6-8 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches. Currently ranked 15th in the nation, the Bulldogs may enter the tournament as one of the top 16 seeds. There is also the possibility of the team hosting an NCAA Regional.
Home Sweet Home
Fresno State wrapped up a perfect home season April 18 with its win over Pacific. The Bulldogs went 9-0 at the Wathen Tennis Center this season, the team's fourth perfect home campaign since 1999.
