For Immediate Release: March 5, 2001
Contact: Derek Smolik, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations

UTPA Tennis Teams to Take on Nationally Ranked Laredo Community College Tuesday

EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American men’s and women’s tennis teams will take on junior college power Laredo Community College in a men’s and women’s tennis doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at the Orville Cox Tennis Courts.

LCC is ranked in the top 10 nationally on both the men’s and women’s sides.  The men are third in the nation in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Junior College Poll, while the women are currently 10^th.

The Bronc men’s tennis team is riding a three-match win streak and is now 6-7 on the season.  The Broncs defeated St. Mary’s 6-0 on Sunday in their most recent match.  Senior Juan Saiz led the way for the Broncs last week, posting a combined 5-0 record in singles and doubles.  For the season Saiz leads the way with 12 singles wins, a career high.

On the women’s side, the Lady Broncs have a 5-6 record.  The Lady Broncs lost to Incarnate Word 6-2 on Saturday in San Antonio.  The five wins is the most for the program in six years, since the 1994-95 team won eight matches.  Freshman Celine Merlini has been a pleasant surprise for the program, posting a team-best 16-7 record in singles.

Play will start at 3 p.m. with the two women’s squads taking the court.  At 4 p.m. the men will start their match.