Corpus Christi, Texas - Northern Colorado (11-7) defeated Texas-Pan American (3-11) 7-0 on the first day of the Independent Women's Tennis Championships. The Lady Broncs will take on IPFW and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Saturday, April 17.

Ana Pena (Jr./McAllen, Texas/Nikki Rowe HS) almost pulled the come from behind win at Number 3 Singles vs. Renee Nuccio. Pena lost the first set 6-1 but stormed back with a 6-2 win to force a tie breaker. It went back and forth before Nuccio pulled out an 11-9 win. Alana Breen (Sr./Whistler, British Columbia, Canada/Whistler Secondary School) took a tough 7-5, 6-3 loss at Number 5 Singles to Julia McPherson.

"I thought we had some good performances in adverse conditions," said Assistant Coach Kati Gyulai. "It was really windy and that played havoc with the ball all day. Ana played an exceptional match and just came up short. Vanessa Hedinger (Fr./Therwil, Switzerland/Gymnasium Berwil) played a good match at Number 1 Singles. Alana played a solid match despite the fact she has been out of action for a month with an injury."

SINGLES
#1 Jan Ikeda (UNC) def. Vanessa Hedinger (UTPA) 6-4, 6-3
#2 Meredith Krystofik (UNC) def. Elysia Sloan (UTPA) 6-3, 6-0
#3 Renee Nuccio (UNC) def. Ana Pena (UTPA) 6-1, 2-6 (11-9)
#4 Shannon Lauridson (UNC) def. Natalie Gonzalez (UTPA) 6-0, 6-1
#5 Julia McPherson (UNC) def. Alana Breen (UTPA) 7-5, 6-3
#6 Taneisha Pechek (UNC) def. Jessica Chavez (UTPA) 6-3, 6-1

DOUBLES
#1 Ikeda/Nuccio (UNC) def. Hedinger/Sloan (UTPA) 8-3
#2 Amber Alley/Krystofik (UNC) def. Breen/Chavez (UTPA) 8-5
#3 Lauridson/Pechek (UNC) def. Gonzalez/Pena (UTPA) 8-2