Fresno State Athletics
No. 19 Bulldogs Hungry for Seventh-Straight WAC Title
4/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 23, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - The 19th-ranked Fresno State women's tennis team is not satisfied with six-straight Western Athletic Conference titles. The Bulldogs are hungry for a seventh consecutive crown as they journey to Las Cruces, N.M. this week for the WAC tournament. Last year, the `Dogs breezed through the tournament with 4-0 victories over San Jose State, Idaho and then Boise State in the final. The `Dogs currently own a 17-7 record and are 2-0 against conference opponents this season. Fresno State is riding a six-match winning streak and will know its first round opponent early this week.
Bulldogs Finish Regular Season Strong
Fresno State finished the regular season with three wins last weekend. The `Dogs topped Long Beach State 6-1, Cal Poly 6-1 and Pacific 7-0. In its current six-match winning streak, the `Dogs have won only by the scores of 6-1 and 7-0. Fresno State completes its home slate with a 9-2 record, but anticipates the opportunity to host the NCAA Regionals in May and take advantage of its home court advantage.
Haskett Bids Farewell
Senior Jacqueline Haskett played in what could have possibly been the last home match of her career. On April 19 against Pacific, the Bulldogs honored Haskett for her outstanding four-year career at Fresno State. Haskett has won more than 100 matches in singles and doubles combined and was named a first-team All-WAC performer in doubles during the 2005-06 season when she went 20-6 overall and 19-3 in dual matches. Haskett has won a WAC title in each season at Fresno State and reached the NCAA Round of 16 on two occasions. Haskett has often found herself at the center of some of Fresno State's most important matches over the past several years. In three WAC tournaments, Haskett has become a specialist for Fresno State, going undefeated with a 5-0 record in singles and a 4-0 mark in doubles.
Gloria Climbs the Career Singles Wins Ladder
Junior Melanie Gloria continues to climb the all-time Fresno State career singles wins ladder. She currently owns 82 singles wins, which ranks sixth all-time. She trails only Dora Djilianova, Katharina Winterhalter, Liesl Fichtbauer, Shanna Peete and Kim Niggemeyer. Gloria is ranked No. 16 in singles with a record of 24-8 overall and 16-5 in dual matches.
Sensational! Petukhova Sizzles in Sophomore Season
Sophomore Anastasia Petukhova has been sensational this season. Recently, she has been simply dominating. When winning in straight sets, Petukhova averages 50 minutes per match. But on April 19 against Pacific, Petukhova gave a tennis clinic, beating Svenja Arens in 37 minutes. Petukhova has been ranked as high as No. 11 this year and is currently at No. 20. She is 36-6 overall and 21-3 in dual matches. She is 4-0 at the No. 1 spot and has been rock solid at the No. 2 spot with a 17-3 record.
Sophomore Sensation: Part II
Sophomore Renata Kucerkova, last year's WAC Freshman of the Year, has been steady in her second season at Fresno State. Playing primarily at the No. 3 spot, Kucerkova owns a 17-7 dual match record and is 26-11 overall. She has won six of her last eight, and eight of her last nine. Kucerkova will be a key factor for the `Dogs down the stretch as her 17-7 dual record also matches that of the team's overall record (17-7).
