For
Immediate Release: Monday, June 24, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240
Sophomore Celine Merlini (Vevey,
Switzerland/Cessev HS) was named NCAA Division I Independent Player of the Year
and was named to the All-Independent Team, while junior Elisabet Mateos
(Barcelona, Spain/Laredo CC/Arnau Cadell HS) was named Newcomer of the Year. The
winners were chosen by a vote of head tennis coaches and sports information
directors at NCAA Division I schools.
Merlini posted a 17-11 record at number one singles and went 12-13 in doubles for the Lady Broncs.
She
won three of five matches at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Omni Hotels
Southwest Collegiate Championships, and was third in flight one singles and was
the consolation champion in flight one doubles at the Texas-San Antonio Fall
Invitational. Merlini was named a United States Achievement Academy All-American
Scholar, and was named to the Bronc Pride 3.0 Club.
Mateos
was 13-18 at number two singles and 13-17 at number one doubles for Texas-Pan
American. She earned Dean's List Second Honors, and was named to the Bronc Pride
3.0 Club.
”I’m very excited that our women’s tennis team received some positive
recognition for our season this year,” said UTPA Head Coach Todd Chapman.
“Celine and Elisabet played number one and number two throughout the year, and
they were both very consistent. It shows how talented that Celine was that she
could be honored despite not being able to finish the season due to a family
emergency. It’s great for Elisabet to be recognized. She had big shoes to fill
when Celine had to return home, and she stepped into Celine’s spot and did a
good job. I’m looking forward to Elisabet providing leadership on the court
and in the classroom next season, and having a good senior year.”
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