For Immediate Release: Friday, 26 September 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS ADVANCE AT LADY CARDINAL INVITATIONAL

BEAUMONT, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's women's tennis team saw three of five players advance as action began at the rain-delayed Lady Cardinal Invitational Tournament at the Lamar University Tennis Center Saturday.

Freshman Vanessa Hedinger (Therwil, Switzerland, Gymnasium Berwil) made her Lady Bronc debut a successful one. Hedinger defeated Tara Shelander of Sam Houston State in her first round Flight One match, 6-3, 6-1, then advanced to the flight finals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Saharai Uriate of Louisiana Tech.

In Flight Three, junior Ana Pena (McAllen, TX/Nikki Rowe HS) lost to Emma McDougall of Sam Houston State, 6-1, 6-0, then won her consolation semi-final match against Lana Burton of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 6-0, 3-6, (10-8) in a supertiebreaker.

Senior Alana Breen (Whistler, BC/Whistler Secondary) won her first round Flight Eight match against Lindsey Jones, an unaffiliated player, 6-2, 6-0. In Flight Five, sophomore Elysia Sloan (Duncanville, TX/Duncanville HS) lost to Debora Montero of McNeese State, 6-0, 6-3; while senior Julie Fife (Los Alamos, NM/Los Alamos HS) lost to Lamar's Nicole Weber, 6-0, 6-0.

"Vanessa played very well, but I think the rest of our players were a little tight, they had first match jitters," said UTPA Head Coach Eduardo Provencio. "Ana played much better in her second match than she did in her first."

The tournament will continue Saturday.

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