NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Cal State Stanislaus will join the Pacific West Conference as an affiliate member in women's tennis, Pacific West Commissioner Bob Hogue announced Tuesday. The Warriors will begin competition in the 2014-15 season.
"Affiliate membership has proven to be a successful strategy with the addition of Sonoma State last year, and we welcome Cal State Stanislaus to make the PacWest a more dynamic and competitive Division II tennis conference," Hogue said. "We have experienced tremendous success with all of our programs in recent years, and the Warriors will help bring us to new heights."
Cal State Stanislaus will join the 13 other PacWest women's tennis programs. While the conference does not sponsor a schedule, the top-eight teams (based on ITA rankings) compete in the PacWest Championship tournament, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. Sonoma State joined the PacWest as an affiliate member in men's and women's tennis in 2013.
Cal State Stanislaus is a member of the CCAA, but the conference stopped sponsoring tennis in 2012. Athletics director Michael Matoso recognized the level of competition the PacWest provides, making the decision to join an easy one.
"We are very excited to have our women's tennis team join the PacWest starting next season," Matoso said. "We thank Commissioner Hogue and the entire conference for allowing us this opportunity, and we look forward to once again compete at a conference tournament championship."
Women's tennis was reinstated at Cal State Stanislaus in 2007 with the hiring of head coach Verek Visaraga, a former Warrior men's tennis star. The Warriors began play as part of the CCAA in the fall of 2008 and were competitive right from the start, challenging defending champion UC San Diego each season before finishing second for two-consecutive years.
"I am happy to be a new member of the PacWest tennis conference," Visaraga said. "This conference has a great reputation of representing our region, as well at the national level. I am looking forward to this opportunity and the immediate impacts it will have on our recruiting and the strength of schedule for our tennis program."
During the first four years of the program (2008-12), the Warriors advanced to the NCAA Championships three times (2009, 2010, 2011) and produced numerous All-Americans, including Verena Preikschas, the most decorated tennis player in Cal State Stanislaus history. Preikschas was a four-time All-American, a four-time ITA Academic All-American, and a 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year finalist. Katie Eng was also a two-time All-American and together, Preikschas and Eng were All-Americans in doubles competition.
Cal State Stanislaus is located in Turlock, Calif., and sponsors 14 NCAA Division II sports as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Warriors are coming off their most successful year as a Division II program with three CCAA team championships and eight individual conference champions.