Match 22: Fresno State (9-12, 3-4 MW) vs San Jose State (13-6, 4-4 MW)
Thursday, Apr. 18, 2024 | 2 p.m. PT | Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Complex | Fresno, Calif.
MEDIA COVERAGE
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FRESNO, Calif.- Fresno State women's tennis team is set for their final home match of the season and will host the San Jose State Spartans on Thursday at 2 p.m. PT at Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Complex. Fresno State will honor two seniors, Carolina Piferi and Misaki Kobayashi prior to the start of Thursday's match.
BULLDOG BONES
Fresno State is set for their final match of the season before MW Tournament begins in Las Vegas
Bulldogs are currently 3-4 in MW play after coming off a loss to No. 60 SDSU
Fresno State will honor two seniors prior to the start of the match this Thursday, Miaski Kobayashi and Carolina Piferi
'Dogs are 7th in the conference and will face 6th San Jose State
Fresno State will face San Jose State for the 17th time in program history since 2008 and the fifth time in Fresno
Fresno State leads the all-time meetings 13-3 and the home meetings 3-1
Bulldogs host the Spartans on a two game win streak in the series
Fresno State has clinched the doubles point in five home matches this season
Senior Carolina Piferi edges closer to 20 wins to the season at 17-4 in singles and has won her last eight matches
THE SENIOR HONOREES
Fresno State will recognize two seniors this Thursday, Carolina Piferi and Misaki Kobayashi.
Piferi has spent all four seasons in a Bulldog uniform, starting her collegiate career in 2020. Piferi has amassed 64 career wins and 24 MW wins in singles and 45 career wins in doubles. Carolina was a part of the 2022 regular season MW Championship team and held a 9-0 singles conference record. Piferi also earned Academic All-MW in 2022 and 2023.
Piferi has played a memorable and outstanding final season as a Bulldog, currently undefeated in MW play (8-0) and looks to match her perfect 2022 singles season conference record (9-0). Piferi was tabbed as the Mountain West Player of the Week on Feb. 24, 2024 after taking the weekend 3-0 individually. Piferi is currently on her longest singles win streak to date at 16 matches and eight matches at No. 3.
Kobayashi is a graduate transfer from Oregon and spent one season in a Bulldog uniform. The Japanese Native started her collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton in the Fall of 2019. Kobayahsi spent three seasons with the Titans before transferring to the University of Oregon as a graduate student. Kobayashi adds a list of accomplishments to her name as a collegiate tennis player, earning 16 wins at singles with 35 career wins, ITA Scholar Athlete (2020, 2021), Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll (2x), Academic All-Big West (2x) and was a doubles finalist at the 2023 Fall Jack Kramer Invitational with the Bulldogs.
SHAKING UP THE LINEUP
In the last two matches, the Bulldogs have mixed up the singles lineup adding in freshman Daria Nazarenko and sophomore Gianna Mastro. Nazarenko made her singles debut against the Broncos on Apr. 12 at home playing in the No. 6 position, her match went unfinished leading 4-1 in the second set. Nazarenko also got court time in San Diego moving up to position No. 4 in the lineup. Mastro made her conference debut against ranked San Diego at the No. 5 singles slot.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Fresno State has won its last four home matches and holds a 7-2 home record this season.
Bulldogs are looking to keep the home streak alive as they face their final conference opponent at Spalding, having yet to see a loss from a Mountain West team at home.
In the last two of three home matches, Bulldogs held their opponent to one point.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Spartans are coming a win against Utah State, 4-0
San Jose State just honored four seniors in their final home match against Utah State
SJSU is one of six MW teams with 10 or more overall wins
Senior Irena Muradyan leads the Spartans with 16-11 singles wins and a whopping 20-10 doubles record; Muradyan has won her last two matches in straight sets at No. 2
In the top slot for the Spartans, Carolina Millan holds a 12-10 singles record
Doubles pair Youiseva and Durgun (10-1) have won their last seven matches at No. 3 and will face 10-5 Bulldogs pair Dunbar/Piferi
Freshman Cheuk Ying Shek is 11-10 in singles playing at No. 3, but has fallen in her last three matches
Shek sees a strong doubles partner in Muradyan in the No.1 spot holding a 17-5 record to the season