Sports Release
June 30, 1999

ENMU WOMEN’S TENNIS SQUAD EARNS ITA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM STATUS
Zias Add 3.3 Cumulative Team GPA to Successful 20-9 Season
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s tennis team, which earned a 20-9 overall record and its third consecutive NCAA Division II Regional Tournament berth this spring, has received an additional honor for the success of its squad members in the classroom. ENMU was one of just 10 teams out of 216 overall in NCAA Division II to receive the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s All-Academic Team award.

In order to qualify for the ITA All-Academic Team award, a collegiate tennis squad needed at least a 3.25 cumulative team grade point average, which included the academic efforts of all team members who played in at least one match during the 1998-99 season.

ENMU concluded the year with a cumulative team GPA of approximately 3.3 for the eight squad members who competed during the year. “This award represents a tremendous accomplishment by our women’s tennis team,” said ENMU Director of Athletics Rosie Stallman. “The Zias were nationally competitive on the court, earning praise and respect for their efforts. The All-Academic Team award recognizes them as being nationally competitive in the classroom as well. All of us at Eastern New Mexico are very proud of the team for being such a fine example of the best in college athletics.”

ENMU Head Coach Christine Blaeser recently completed her 9th season with the Zias. The 1998-99 season was the most successful in team history, as the Zias set a school record with their 20-0 mark in dual matches. ENMU defeated Midwestern State, 5-2, in the first round of the NCAA Midwest Regional at Edmond, Okla. before losing to Central Oklahoma, 5-0, in the regional championship match.

ITA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY
(3.3 Cumulative Team GPA)
Head Coach Christine Blaeser
Seniors: Dena Boans, Rozlyn Gorski
Juniors: Lacy Graham, Julie Stiles
Sophomores: None*
Freshmen: Laura Gonzales, Makenzie McCravey, Sarah Pennington, Layla Turner

*Sophomore Betsy Cata was injured and did not compete this year.