Athletic Report
April 28, 2000

WILDCATS DEFEAT ZIAS IN LSC FINALS
WICHITA FALLS, TX — Abilene Christian University, the top-seeded team at the Lone Star Conference Tennis Championships in Wichita Falls, Texas, defeated the #2 seed, Eastern New Mexico University, 5-0, Friday, Apr. 28 in the LSC Championship match. ACU, ranked #8 in NCAA Division II, improved to 23-3 on the season. ENMU, ranked #13, fell to 14-4 overall.

The second place LSC Tournament finish was the best in the history of the ENMU women’s tennis program. The Zias previous top showings were 3rd place finishes in 1994-95 and 1995-96.

Abilene Christian built a 3-0 lead over the Zias by sweeping the doubles matches. Even so, ENMU’s top doubles team of sophomore Layla Turner (Casa Grande, NM/Casa Grande Union H.S.) and senior Julie Stiles (Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) gave ACU’s team of Sarah Taweel and Kasey Hawkins, a challenging match. Taweel and Hawkins edged Turner and Stiles, 8-6.

The #2 doubles match was won by Leah Ticer and Lacey Jordan of ACU, who defeated Lisa Weinman (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/West Mesa H.S.) and Sarah Pennington (So., Sweetwater, TX/Sweetwater H.S.), 8-1. At #3 doubles, the team of Kristen Chumley and Andi Wildner defeated Mandy Wells (Fr., Pampa, TX/Pampa H.S.) and Sarah Salazar (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/ St. Pius X H.S.), 8-2.

Following its success in doubles, ACU needed only two singles victories to win the match. Lacey Johnson defeated Weinman at #3 singles, 6-0, 6-1, and Chumley downed Salazar, 6-1, 6-0, at #6 singles. The remaining singles flights were not completed after ACU clinched the team title.

ENMU’s next action will be in the opening round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Zias will take on the University of Central Oklahoma, 9-10, at the Midwest Regional in Edmond, Okla., on Friday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. (MDT). The other first round match in Edmond will feature Northern Kentucky University, 13-3, versus Truman State University, 18-2, May 5 at 9:00 a.m. (MDT).

The first round winners will meet in the Regional Final at 8:00 a.m. (MDT) on Saturday, Apr. 6. The Regional champion will advance to the 16-team NCAA Division II National Finals, May 11-14, in Pensacola, Fla.