For Immediate Release: March 24, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS DEFEAT CENTENARY

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX –The University of Texas-Pan American women’s tennis team earned its third victory in two days Sunday afternoon.

The Lady Broncs defeated Centenary, 7-0, at the Kings Crossing Country Club.

The Broncs won two matches in final-set tie-breakers. Sophomore Celine Merlini (Vevey, Switzerland/ Cessev HS) and junior Elisabet Mateos (Barcelona, Spain/Laredo CC/Arnau Cadell HS) defeated Mandy Yearwood and Sarah Everett at number one doubles, 9-8, winning the tie-breaker by a 7-2 score. Mateos defeated Everett at number two singles, 3-6, 6-0, 7-6, winning a third-set tie-breaker, also by a 7-2 score. Merlini defeated Mandy Yearwood at number one singles, winning the first set, 6-1, before Yearwood retired due to an injury.

Mateos was one of two Lady Broncs who won after losing the first set. Senior Eve Nickelson (Franklin, TX/Franklin HS/Temple JC) came back to defeat Elizabeth Pitts at number four singles, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Nickelson and sophomore Jessica Brown won their number two doubles match, defeating Pitts and Lindsay Yearwood, 8-6, while Brown downed Saba Khonsari at number six singles, 6-1, 6-0.

Freshmen Ana Pena (McAllen, TX/Nikki Rowe HS) and Kathryn Waslen (Calgary, AB/West Island College) won their matches. They combined to defeat Khonsari and Brandy Smith at number three doubles, 8-2. Waslen defeated Smith at number three singles, 6-2, 6-0, while Pena downed Lindsay Yearwood at number five singles, 6-1, 6-1.

”We played well, even though it was unbelievably windy,” said UTPA Head Coach Todd Chapman. “The wind was gusting up to 45 miles an hour, and the wind screens were blowing loose on the court. I thought we played well and played smart. I was proud of all of our players, especially Elisabet and Eve for coming back to win after losing the first set.”

The Lady Broncs improved to 5-10 with the victory, while the Ladies dropped to 7-11. UTPA will return to action when they visit the Dallas area for three matches next weekend.
                                                                
                                                             UTPA 7, CENTENARY 0

DOUBLES

1-Celine Merlini and Elisabet Mateos, UTPA, defeated Mandy Yearwood and Sarah Everett, 9-8 (7-2)
2-Eve Nickelson and Jessica Brown, UTPA, defeated Lindsay Yearwood and Elizabeth Pitts, 8-6
3-Kathryn Waslen and Ana Pena, UTPA, defeated Saba Khosari and Brandy Smith, 8-2

                                                                        SINGLES

1-Merlini, UTPA, defeated Mandy Yearwood, 6-1, retired
2-Mateos, UTPA, defeated Everett, 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-2)
3-Waslen, UTPA, defeated Smith, 6-2, 6-0
4-Nickelson,UTPA, defeated Pitts, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
5-Pena, UTPA, defeated Lindsay Yearwood, 6-1, 6-1
6-Brown, UTPA, defeated Khonsari, 6-1, 6-0
                                                                     
                                      

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