TURLOCK — What a way to start the spring 2010 season for the Cal State Stanislaus women's tennis team.

After a challenging preseason as the Warriors played two Division I programs and a NAIA national powerhouse, the women's tennis team is ready to start the California Collegiate Athletic Association season. And they will have to do that against six-time defending conference champion UC San Diego.

The showdown against the Tritons, ranked No. 19 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, is set for Saturday at 11 a.m. at the CSUS Tennis Courts. The 17th ranked Warriors will take on a UCSD program that has won 60 consecutive CCAA matches.

"Our top three players can compete with any body in our conference," head coach Verek Visaraga said. "In 4-5-6, we needed to beef up and we did that with the new players. That's going to help us immensely."

The Warriors lost twice to UC San Diego in their inaugural season. However, this year's squad has added depth with the arrival of new talents Arina Polovnikova (transfer from Palomar College) and Erin McGurty (Cuesta College).

Leading the charge for CSUS again is returning CCAA most valuable player Verena Preikschas and sophomores Vanesa Reibstein and Katie Eng, the CCAA freshman of the year in 2009. Reibstein enters the spring season as the 18th ranked player in Division II while Preikschas is No. 23.

The depth chart saw some changes during the preseason with Lexy Harrington, last year's No. 4 singles player, at No. 6 while Heather Cotter played sparingly in doubles competition. Cotter earned All-CCAA honors at the No. 6 spot. Brianna McClintock will also be in the mix in the lineup.

"Some of the returning players have also taken different role and be competitive in those roles, which will increase our chances with someone like UC San Diego with their depth," Visaraga added.

Last weekend, Preikschas beat the top ranked singles player in the NAIA when she handled Fresno Pacific's Katia Sabate, 6-1, 6-3.

In singles play, Preikschas and Eng remain the top duo and is currently ranked No. 5 in Division II. Reibstein and Polovnikova have paired up at No. 2 and so far turned in competitive results. Cotter and McClintock rounds out the doubles team at No. 3.

Leading UCSD in the singles ladder are No. 45 Natalie Varnay and Taskeen Bains, who was announced as the Penn/CCAA Player of the Week on Monday after topping SSU's top player in straight sets. The Tritons are 1-0 this season after am 8-1 win over Sonoma State last week.