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For
Immediate Release: October 13, 2000 UT
Pan American Women's Tennis Shines in Singles Play on First Day of
Tournament NACOGDOCHES -- The University of Texas-Pan American women’s tennis team opened tournament play at the Stephen F. Austin Invitational with 11 wins in singles play on Friday. In singles flight “1”, Celine Merlini handed Meredith Watson of Stephen F. Austin a loss by the score of 6-3, 6-1. Following that victory, Merlini defeated Kim Gardiner of Sam Houston State, 6-1, 6-0, advancing to the semi-finals on Saturday. Maria Fernandez lost her first round match 6-2, 6-1 to Ivette Andrade of Sam Houston State, but battled back to make it to the semi-finals of the consolation bracket. Eve Nickelson advanced to the semi-finals of the singles flight “2” by defeating Lisa Sternberg of Southwest Texas State, 6-2, 6-2. Nickelson followed up that victory with a win over Sommer McFarlain by a score of 6-4, 6-4. After a first round bye, Sagnite Garcia opened tournament play in the singles fight “4” with victories over Lauren Longbothom of Louisiana Tech, 6-2, 6-2, and Brandee LaSuzzo of Northwestern State, 6-3, 6-3, propelling her to the finals. In singles flight “5”, Alana Breen won her first two collegiate matches en-route to advancing to the semi-finals by defeating Denise Rodriguez of Kilgore Junior College 6-3, 7-6, and Kathryn Olsen of Northwestern State, 6-2, 6-3. Jessica Brown beat Amanda Bradley of Stephen F. Austin 6-1, 6-1. Brown then fell to Candice Davis of the University of North Texas, 6-2, 6-1. In
doubles play, the tandem of Merlini and Fernadez won their first match
against Catherine Alain and Kristen Beedy of Northwestern State, 8-2,
then fell to Amanda Tabisz and Sarah Osborn of Stephen F. Austin, 8-4.
Merlini and Fernandez will be playing for third place on
Saturday. “I am
very pleased with the first day’s play, a lot of our girls were
victorious in their matches. We
had two girls that went 2-0 which was great,” said Coach Scott Howard.
“Alana Breen won her first two matches of her college career.
Celine Merlini continued to play well.
Sagnite Garcia saw her first action of the fall and played pretty
well wining two matches. Over
all, the women did pretty well wining 11 of 14 matches.
All the girls played well today,” Howard added. Tournament play wraps up tomorrow morning with doubles play followed by the semi-finals and finals in singles. |