Long Beach State attempt to win a sixth straight Big West Championship begins Friday as the No. 46 49ers travel to UC Riverside to take on the Highlanders in the first of two matches this weekend. The 49ers then return home to host No. 51 UC Irvine at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Long Beach State (3-1) starts off the week and Big West play by making the trip east to take on UC Riverside at 2 p.m. Friday in Riverside. After that match, the 49ers take on one of their biggest challenges of the season, playing No. 51 UC Irvine in Long Beach State’s third match with a ranked opponent. The 49ers have split on the season, losing to No. 9 USC before beating No. 47 San Diego State last weekend.

The 49ers will rely on a ranked tandem of Jaklin Alawi and Rachel Manasse in doubles, who improved to No. 55 in the latest rankings released by the ITA. They are the only players ranked in the latest lists for either the 49ers or the Anteaters, but both squads are again tightly matched in the rankings and the match will have major Big West Tournament seeding implications.

The Highlanders (1-3) picked up their first win last week against Utah State, while UC Irvine (3-2, 1-0) defeated Cal Poly in the team’s first Big West Conference match last week.

Following this week’s action, the 49ers have another big week as Long Beach State dedicates Court No. 1 at Rhodes Tennis Center for Hannah Grady, Long Beach State’s current assistant coach and four-time Big West Player of the Year. That ceremony will occur prior to the team’s match against Pacific at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27. 

Reports From LBSU