January 16, 1998
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755
(Portales, N.M.) --- For the second season in a row the Eastern New Mexico University women's tennis team brings an NCAA Division II national ranking into the spring. The 1998 Zias, under eighth-year head coach Christine Blaeser, are currently 26th in the nation following the fall portion of the season. They are working towards are return appearance in the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament.
"The level of competition we will face this spring is strong. We are also excited to have some home matches this season," said Blaeser. "The Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament will be extremely tough. Last year the top four teams in the league, including us, received regional bids and two of those teams made it to the national tournament."
The Zias faced strong competition in the fall in the Lone Star Conference singles and doubles championship tournament in September. Senior Alejandra Miralles (Alicante, Spain) and sophomore Julie Stiles (Roswell) finished third in the doubles championship flight. Competition at the Rolex regional tournament in October also proved to be fierce. Miralles advanced to the semifinals in the singles competition and in doubles play with Stiles. Miralles came out of the fall ranked 53rd in NCAA Division II singles and 19th in doubles with Stiles.
After a successful fall, the Zias are gearing up for a tough spring. Seven players compete for the Zias, five returning players and two newcomers. Miralles and Stiles top the list of returning players. They will continue in the #1 and #2 singles, and #1 doubles positions for the Zias. Miralles continues to be one of the toughest players in the region. Stiles, a great athlete, is tougher this season mentally and physically.
Juniors Rozlyn Gorski (El Paso, Texas) and Dena Boans (Carlsbad), and sophomore Robbie Jones (Portales) also bring NCAA Tournament experience to the team. Gorski is improving her net game which in turn improves her all-court game and doubles. Her groundstrokes are more aggressive, improving her baseline game. Boans is continually expanding her game. She is adding a variety of shots to use in different game situations. Jones continues to improve overall as she gains more collegiate match experience.
Tawny Richard (Sequin, Wash.) and Betsy Cata (Santa Cruz) are the two newcomers to the team. Richard is improving her net game and groundstrokes. As she improves, she will climb up the team ranking. Cata has made tremendous strides in her net game through the fall. Her volleys have become crisp, improving her all-court game.
"Our main goal as a team is to return to the national tournament. The returning players have set their expectations and goals higher this season," said Blaeser. "They know that determination and hard work will get them there."