For Immediate Release: March 13, 2000
Contact: Derek Smolik, UT Pan American SID

Villareal, Garcia Pick up First Wins, but Broncs Fall to Lousiana-Hammond, 7-2

HAMMOND, LA. -- Mireya Villareal picked up her first collegiate win, while Sagnite Garcia won her first match of the year, but it wasn't enough as Louisiana-Hammond defeated UTPA in women's tennis action 7-2 on Monday.

Villareal, a freshman from Edinburg, rallied from a one-set deficit to defeat Nikki McGaughey in a three-hour marathon match in number five singles.  McGaughey won the first set 6-2, but Villareal began the long road back, winning the second set by the same 6-2 count.  Then she held on for a 7-6 win in third set to pick up the first ever collegiate win.

Sagnite Garcia, playing at number three singles, had little trouble picking up her first win of the season, defeating Bronwyn Swanepoel by a 6-1, 6-2, margin.  Maria Fernandez almost gave the Broncs a split of the singles matches, but just fell to Anne Mette at number one singles by a tough 7-5, 6-4, count.

All three doubles matches were also very close, but the Broncs fell in all three.  Mette and Anna Du Plooy defeated Garcia and Fernandez at number one singles, 8-5.  Swanepoel and Jessica Lewis defeated Kristine Getchell and Linda Rodriguez by an 8-6 count.  Villareal and Marissa Guzman were also defeated by an 8-6 count at number three doubles.

The Lady Broncs will return to action on Tuesday afternoon when they take on Louisiana-Lafayette at 1:30 in Lafayette, La.

Louisiana-Hammond 7, UTPA 2
Hammond, La.
March 12, 2000

Singles
#1    Anne Mette (ULH) d. Maria Fernandez (UTPA), 7-5, 6-4
#2    Anna Du Plooy (ULH) d. Kristine Getchell (UTPA), 6-1, 6-1
#3    Sagnite Garcia (UTPA) d. Bronwyn Swanepoel (ULH), 6-1,6-2
#4    Jessica Lewis (ULH) d. Linda Rodriguez (UTPA), 6-1, 6-2
#5    Mireya Villareal (UTPA) d. Nikki McGaughey (ULH), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6
#6    Klementyna Zaruski (ULH) d. Marissa Guzman (ULH), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
#1    Du Plooy/Mette (ULH) d. Fernandez/Garcia (UTPA), 8-5
#2    Lewis/Swanepoel (ULH) d. Getchell/Rodriguez (UTPA), 8-6
#3    McGaughey/Zaruski (ULH) d. Guzman/Villareal (UTPA), 8-6