The Sacramento State women’s tennis team smashed its way to the Big Sky Conference championship last weekend in Phoenix, besting Montana 4-0 on Friday and Weber State on Saturday to take home its fourth-straight conference title.

The wins marked the team’s school-record 25th-straight victory over their Big Sky foes, with two shutout victories, capping a season that saw the Hornets drop not one set to a conference rival.-

The Hornets are now 23-4 on the year.Against No. 5-seeded Montana in the semifinals, the No. 37 Hornets took care of the doubles point early. The team of Margarita Karnaukhova and Anna Karaveyeva won its match 8-2 at the one spot, and ‘mates Klara Petersson and Anna Erikson clinched the deciding doubles point 8-3 at the two.- Per conference rules, the No. 3 match was stopped after the deciding match.In singles play, the 105th-ranked Erikson stepped in at the one for an injured Karnaukhova, winning 6-0, 6-1. Senior Cristina Rivieccio, in her final conference tournament appearance, won handily, 6-1, 6-1 at the six.- At the five, Karaveyeva’s 6-1, 6-4 tally clinched the match.

It was more of the same on Saturday against No.-2-seed Weber State with the title on the line. The super Swedish duo of Erikson and Petersson again won at the two, 8-2, while Cecilia Helland and senior Roberta Fessenko joined in with an 8-1 win at the three.

Once again, Erikson filled-in at the one, taking her match 6-0, 6-1.-

At the three, freshman Petersson did her part, winning 6-0, 6-2.- The deciding point was left to the 105th-ranked Helland, who sealed the deal with a 6-1, 6-1 drubbing.-

Hornet coach Bill Campbell said that the team was noticeably subdued afterwards, knowing that as the heavy favorites they did what they were expected to do.-

The challenge for the Hornets lies at NCAA Regionals.

“They are very focused,” remarked Campbell. “This is their fourth year in a row, and we’ve been playing very well … their celebration will come if they can get through Regionals.”

Campbell was elated to see this season’s senior super-sub Rivieccio get some conference action in her final few matches.

“It was great to see Cristina win her final two matches as a senior,” Campbell said. “She really played extremely well.”

Karnaukhova’s conspicuous absence from the finals was no posturing on Campbell’s part, as Sac State’s top-ranked player was nursing a shoulder injury.

“Rita’s shoulder was bothering her a little bit … I think it’s just a little strain,” Campbell said. “It’s not a major injury by any means.”

Next up, the Hornets take their show on the road to the NCAA Regionals, May 13-15, with the pairings and location to be announced on ESPN News at 1:30 p.m.-