For Immediate Release: October 20, 2001
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS’ MERLINI ADVANCES AT ITA

HOUSTON, TX –Celine Merlini of the University of Texas-Pan American advanced to the round of 16 in consolation round action at the Omni Hotels Southwest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Championships Saturday at Texas Christian University.

Merlini defeated Erica Rudich of Sam Houston State, 6-1, 6-2, and Alexandra Nieto of Northwestern State (LA), 6-1, 6-2 in consolation round action Saturday afternoon.

In other singles action, Kathryn Waslen of UTPA fell to Tina Klement of Southwest Texas State, 6-4, 6-4, Jessica Brown lost to Kelly Cucewicz of Louisiana-Monroe, 6-1, 6-0, Elisabet Mateos lost to Melanie Hall of Southwest Texas State, 6-3, 6-1, and Eve Nickelson lost to Danielle Lee of Texas A and M, 6-3, 6-1.

In doubles, the team of Alenka Ovin and Kendall Brooks of Texas Tech defeated Nickelson and Waslen,  8-2. Brown and Ana Pena lost to the Dybiez sisters of Arkansas, 8-1, and Merlini and Mateos defeated Ruiz and Schram of Texas Tech, 8-4, but then lost to Bassett and Lee of Texas A & M, 8-6.

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