There may be a lot of new faces this season, but there’s something awfully familiar about the way the women’s tennis team is treating its Big Sky Conference rivals.

A victory over Eastern Washington on Saturday earned the No. 44- ranked Hornets a perfect 4-0 record in conference play, while improving to 9-5 on the season. It’s been so long since the team fell to a Big Sky opponent,April 14, 2001, to be exact, that when the team beat Northern Arizona 5-2 earlier this year, even dropping the two points was viewed as a relative letdown.

Five freshmen joined reigning Big Sky MVP Margarita Karnaukhova, and junior Cecilia Helland to form a union long on youthful spirit, but for the most part short on experience.

Coach Bill Campbell has been watching the women as they gain the experience and develop the team chemistry that they’ll need for the Big Sky tournament, and if all goes well, the NCAA tournament.”Each week, they’re more able to handle different situations. I’m pretty pleased with their progress so far,” Campbell said.

Freshman and No. 2 singles player Luba Schifris is a respectable 7-7 on the season, including 3-0 while filling in at the No. 1 spot. With a 4-1 record, Campbell’s pairing of Schifris and freshman Joyce Martinez Gutierrez at No. 2 doubles has also paid dividends.

Helland is 10-4 on the year and earned her second career Big Sky Player of the Week award in early February. Karnaukhova, ranked No. 72 nationally, is 8-4 so far. She plays with two bulging discs in her back, and Campbell tries to find her time to rest periodically. “I’ve gotten used to it already. I know if it’s something I can’t be playing with, I will stop,” said Karnaukhova.

But beyond the tennis fundamentals, beyond the records, and beyond the need for match experience, what might pay off most in the long run is how much fun they have learning to be a team.

“This team, more so than others, has really bonded together,” Campbell said. “(Past teams) all kind of liked each other, but this team really likes each other.”

Josh Terrell can be reached at [email protected]