Athletic Report
November 8, 1999

ZIAS COMPLETE FALL SEASON
RANKED #18 IN NCAA DIVISION II
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s tennis team is ranked #18 in the NCAA Division II Poll (Fall Season) recently released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). It is the highest national ranking ever achieved by the Zias, who concluded the 1998-99 season ranked #19 last spring.

The Zias had an outstanding fall season that was highlighted by two players competing at the ITA/Rolex National Tournament for NCAA Division II. Sophomore Layla Turner (Casa Grande, AZ/ Casa Grande Union H.S.) took 6th place in singles and teams with senior Julie Stiles (Roswell, NM/ Goddard H.S.) to earn 5th place in doubles.

ENMU was also 1-0 in duals, as the Zias achieved an 8-1 victory at West Texas A&M on Oct. 16. The strong performances by Turner and Stiles earned ENMU a pair of Top 10 positions in the ITA Singles and Doubles rankings for NCAA Division II.

Turner is ranked 6th in singles, and Turner and Stiles are also ranked 6th in doubles. ENMU, under the guidance of Head Coach Christine Blaeser finished the 1998-99 season with a 20-9 overall record. The Zias qualified for an NCAA Regional Tournament for the third consecutive season.

Blaeser, now in her 10th season at ENMU, hopes to guide the Zias to a fourth straight Regional berth when the 1999-2000 tennis season resumes during the spring semester.