For Immediate Release: March 12, 2001
Contact: Derek Smolik, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations

UT Pan American Women’s Tennis Falls to Northwestern State, Louisiana-Monroe on Sunday

BEAMUONT – The University of Texas-Pan American women’s tennis team dropped two matches on Sunday, 5-1 to Northwestern State and 5-0 to Louisiana-Monroe.

The Lady Broncs won their lone singles match of the day when Eve Nickelson defeated Eliza Young of Northwestern State at number two in the first match of the day.  Young was forced to retire down 6-5 in the first set due to an injury.  Also playing tough for the Broncs against the Demons was Celine Merlini, who fell 7-6, 6-1, at number one.  Erica Espinoza was defeated 6-3, 7-6, and Jessica Brown was defeated 2-6, 6-0, 6-1, at number three.

UTPA did not fare as well against the Indians.  Merlini dropped the first set of her match at number one, but was winning the second set, 4-1, when play was stopped in the match.  The Indians won the other five singles matches in straight sets and when the win was clinched, play was stopped.

With the losses, the Lady Broncs fell to 5-9 and have lost four in a row.  Their next match will be the start of a four-match swing in Tennessee and Kentucky on March 23.  They will take on Belmont in Nashville at 2 p.m.

Northwestern 5, UTPA 1
Women’s Tennis
Beaumont, Texas

Singles
No. 1 – Brandi Matthews (NSU) d. Celine Merlini (UTPA), 7-6, 6-1
No. 2 – Eve Nickelson (UTPA) d. Eliza Young (NSU), 6-5, def.
No. 3 – Katy Wallace (NSU) d. Jessica Brown (UTPA), 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
No. 4 – Natalie Unger (NSU) d. Alana Breen (UTPA), 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 – Brandee Lasuzzu (NSU) d. Mireya Villareal (UTPA), 6-2, 6-0
No. 6 – Joanne McKee (NSU) d. Erica Espinoza (UTPA), 6-3, 7-6

Doubles Were Not Played

Louisiana-Monroe 5, UTPA 0

Singles
No. 1 – Celine Merlini (UTPA) vs. Matilde Taboeda (ULM), 2-6, 4-1
No. 2 – Kaori Tanabe (ULM) d. Eve Nickelson (UTPA), 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 – Anna Yenyk (ULM) d. Jessica Brown (UTPA), 6-1, 6-0
No. 4 – Melissa Vujovich (ULM) d. Alana Breen (UTPA), 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 – Kathi Sadofsky (ULM) d. Mireya Villareal (UTPA), 6-0, 6-1
No. 6 – Carolina Souza (ULM) d. Erica Espinoza (UTPA), 6-1, 6-1

Doubles Were Not Played