Athletic Report
October 26, 1998

WOMEN’S TENNIS
(ZIAS DOWN CAMERON AND WEST TEXAS)
The Eastern New Mexico women’s tennis team, which qualified for the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament each of the past two seasons, achieved a quality finish to its fall schedule, defeating two Lone Star Conference opponents on Sat., Oct. 24. The Zias edged Cameron University, 5-4, and routed West Texas A&M, 8-1. Both matches were played in Canyon, Texas.

ENMU’s victory over Cameron was important to the Zias’ hopes for another Regional appearance next spring. Cameron was ranked 16th in the nation in NCAA Division II last year.

Eastern won 3 of 6 singles flights and 2 of 3 doubles flights to defeat Cameron. Layla Turner (Fr., Casa Grande, AZ/Union H.S.) led the way, defeating Ana Vera Vera, 6-2, 6-3 at #1 singles. Julie Stiles (Jr., Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) also won in straight sets at #2 singles, downing Rachel Henderson, 6-2, 6-0. ENMU’s other singles victory came from Sarah Pennington (Fr., Sweetwater, TX/Sweetwater H.S.) at #4 singles. She defeated Andrea Webb, 6-2, 6-2.

At #1 doubles, Turner and Stiles won 8-6 over Vera Vera and Tiffany Burgess. Cameron’s #2 doubles team of Henderson and Maria Carlsson defeated MaKenzie McCravey (Fr., El Dorado, TX/El Dorado H.S.) and Laura Gonzales (Fr., Snyder, TX/Snyder H.S.), 8-5. ENMU won #3 doubles, as Pennington and Dena Boans (Sr., Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) defeated Webb and Aubree Helvey, 8-6.

Against West Texas A&M, the Zias won every flight except #2 doubles. Turner swept past Rachel Pendergrass, 6-0, 6-1 at #1 singles. The Zias also won in straight sets at #2, #3, and #4 singles. Boans won in three sets at #5 singles, edging Jennifer Rains, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. Tawny Richard (So., Sequim, WA/Sequim H.S.) won #6 singles over Kristin Smith, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Turner and Stiles shut out West Texas’ Amy Dominguez and Pendergrass at #1 doubles, winning 8-0. McCravey and Gonzales lost in a tie-breaker to Kori Pagel and Nicole Munoz at #2 doubles, 9-8 (7-3). Pennington and Boans won #3 doubles over Smith and Rains, 8-3.

The wins give ENMU a 2-0 record in dual meets this fall. Eastern previously competed at individual tournaments without team scoring. Eastern does not play again until Jan. 29, when the Zias take on Western New Mexico in a tournament at Phoeniz, Arizona.