MATT CAPOWSKI/Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona senior Bruno Arapovic returns a serve in practice last month at the Robson Tennis Center. The Wildcat men's and women's tennis teams begin play at the Pacific 10 Conference Championships today in Ojai, Calif.

The Pacific 10 Conference Championships begin today in Ojai, Calif., with the Arizona men's and women's teams going in opposite directions.

The Wildcat women are coming into the conference tournament riding high after upsetting No. 9 Arizona State last weekend.

The UA women (11-10 overall, 4-4 Pac-10) have won three of their last five matches in conference, which has given them the confidence to compete with any team in the Pac-10.

Arizona freshman Maja Mlakar enters the championship No. 18 in singles and No. 9 in doubles with partnersophomore Debbie Larocque.

After a season that saw the Wildcats go .500 in the Pac-10 for the first time since 1997, UA is assured a spot in the NCAA postseason tournament.

However, the same can't be said for the Arizona men's team.

The Wildcat men (9-12, 1-8 Pac-10) missed a golden opportunity to make a claim for entry into the 64-team NCAA Tournament last weekend when they fell to No. 33 ASU, 3-4.

The Pac-10 Championships are based on individual results, which means that each UA player is going to have to upset a few opponents in order to ensure the Wildcat men a second straight appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Compiled from a news release