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For Immediate Release:
November 6, 2000 UT Pan American
Women’s Tennis Closes Out Fall Season at ITA Regionals COLLEGE STATION -- The UT
Pan American women’s tennis team closed its fall season at the ITA
Southwest Regional tournament this weekend held on the campus of Texas
A&M University with one player advancing from the first round. The tournament was
originally to start on Friday, but due to inclement weather, the
tournament started on Saturday. Since
the tournament started a day late, the matches were played in pro sets,
and the consolation brackets were eliminated. Freshman Julie Fife advanced
to round 64 of the tournament due to her first round opponent
withdrawing. In the second
round, Fife lost to Eva Marcial of Texas A&M 8-0.
Megan Russell of Southern Methodist University, the number eight
seed, 8-1, defeated Maria Fernandez. The number 10 seed Kaysie Smashey
from the University of Texas defeated UTPA freshman Celine Merlini by a
score of 8-5. Sagnite
Garcia lost to Kit Carson from Texas A&M University 8-0.
Alana Breen fell to Matilde Toborda of Louisiana-Monroe 8-2.
Elisa Bjorkland of UT-El Paso defeated Eve Nickelson by a score of 8-5. In doubles, UTPA's Fernandez
and Celine Merlini lost to Marketa Gizova and Lisa Jackson of
UT-Arlington 8-3. The duo
of Fife and Garcia fell to Marie Stepanova and Jitka Vetrovcova of
UT-Arlington 8-1. The
tandem of Nickelson and Breen were defeated by Ashely Hedberg and
Jessica Roland of Texas A&M, the number two seeded team by a score
of 8-2. “We were happy to get in
nine matches (six singles and three doubles) due to the weather.
Most of our girls played okay, but the competition was very
tough,” said Head Coach Scott Howard.
“The girls now know what this level of competition looks like.
This was the first time most of them have seen this level of
play, it was a good experience for them,” added Howard. The spring season for Lady Bronc tennis begins on January 27 when they travel to Houston to compete against Southeastern Louisiana. |