With only one match remaining before the Big West tournament, the UCSB women’s tennis team faces conference opponent Cal State Northridge this Sunday.

After last weekend’s split matches, the Gauchos find themselves with an overall record of 6-14 with a 3-3 record in conference play. CSUN holds an 11-7 overall record and is tied with UCSB in conference play with a 3-3 league record.

UCSB’s season has certainly had its downfalls with one losing streak of five games and three games, as well as numerous weeks, where the team was dealing with multiple injuries to crucial players. The Gauchos have looked to be their strongest in the past couple weeks, boasting a convincing win over Sacramento State 5-2 on March 26th and sweeping UC Riverside 7-0 last Saturday.

CSUN has had an impressive season too, beating fierce opponents such as Cal Poly 4-3 and Cal State Fullerton 6-1. However with only three conference wins this season, Northridge is only one spot above of UCSB in the Big West standings.

Throughout the season, Santa Barbara has been shifting its starting lineup nearly every week in an effort to build the strongest overall squad. The Gauchos have been appearing to look as healthy as they have all season, and if they continue to play the way they have been in previous weeks, a win against Northridge is within reach.

If UCSB can defeat CSUN this weekend, it will consequently also move up a spot in the Big West standings. This move will greatly benefit their seeding in the tournament to come.

The Gauchos indeed have an important a game on Sunday as they have all season. Play is set to begin at noon and will take place on the Recreational Center Tennis Courts.

This article is an online exclusive and did not appear in the print edition of The Daily Nexus.

Photo by Dustin Harris of The Daily Nexus.