Athletic Report
May 5, 2000

EASTERN NEW MEXICO DOWNS UCO
IN NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL SEMIFINAL
EDMOND, OK — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s tennis team, ranked #13 in NCAA Division II, defeated the University of Central Oklahoma, 5-2, May 5 in the semifinals of the Midwest Regional Tournament in Edmond, Okla.

The win improved ENMU to 15-4 on the season. UCO concluded its season at 9-11. The Zias will play in the Regional Championship match, May 6 at 8:00 a.m. (MDT), against Northern Kentucky University. NKU downed Truman State University (Mo.), 5-2, in the other semifinal match to up its overall record to 14-3.

ENMU, who lost to UCO, 5-0 in last year’s regional final, took a 2-1 lead over the Lady Bronchos in the doubles matches to start this year’s regional re-match.

Eastern’s #1 doubles team of sophomore Layla Turner (Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union H.S.) and senior Julie Stiles (Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) defeated Marina Erchova and Abby Frick, 8-0. The Zias also won #2 doubles, as Lisa Weinman (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/West Mesa H.S.) and Sarah Pennington (So., Sweetwater, TX/Sweetwater H.S.) defeated Angie Woodard and Jill Woodard, 8-2. At #3 doubles, the UCO team of Jennifer Jones and Leticia Lozada defeated Mandy Wells (Fr., Pampa, TX/Pampa H.S.) and Sarah Salazar (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X H.S.), 8-5.

Turner led ENMU in singles, winning the #1 flight with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Erchova. Stiles won #2 singles, defeating Lozada, 6-1, 6-0. Weinman defeated Jill Woodard, 6-1, 6-2, at #3 singles, and Jones of UCO slipped past Salazar in two tie-breakers, 7-6, 7-6, at #6 singles.

The remaining matches were halted once ENMU clinched the team victory with five wins overall. Easterrn New Mexico is making its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA National Tournament.

The Zias, who previously reached the regional final in 1997 and 1999, seek their first ever regional title. The winner of this year’s Regional Championship match will advance to the 16-team NCAA Division II National Finals, May 11-14, in Pensacola, Fla.