Athletic Report
April 13, 2001

ZIAS DOWN NORTHWOOD, NORTHERN COLORADO IN PRELIMINARY PLAY AT BRONCHO INVITATIONAL ENMU Wins Flight, Advances to Semifinals
EDMOND, OK — Eastern New Mexico University defeated Northwood University (Mich.), 5-3, and downed the University of Northern Colorado, 5-4, to win its flight with an undefeated record and advance to the semifinals of the University of Central Oklahoma Broncho Invitational, Apr. 13 in Edmond, Okla.

ENMU, which defeated Southwest Baptist University, 5-0, in flight play on Apr. 12, improved to 8-3 overall, 3-0 in the Broncho Invitational. ENMU defeated Northwood and Northern Colorado without the Zias’ top singles player, Layla Turner (Jr., Casa Grande, AZ/Case Grande Union H.S.), who did not make the trip.

Turner, ranked #16 in NCAA Division II in singles, stayed at home because she was feeling ill. She hopes to rejoin the Zias for the Lone Star Conference Tournament, Apr. 19-20 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Zias gained an early 3-0 lead on Northwood by winning all three doubles flights. At #1 doubles, Eastern’s team of Lisa Weinman (So., Albuquerque, NM/West Mesa H.S.) and Sarah Pennington (Jr., Sweetwater, TX/Sweetwater H.S.) defeated Northwood’s Lisa Neugebauer and Helena Kotaskova, 9-8, winning 7-5 in the tie-breaker.

Weinman and Pennington moved up a flight to fill in for Turner and Bethanie Nix (Fr., Spring, TX/Newman Smith H.S.). Turner and Nix are ranked #22 in NCAA Division II in doubles play. At #2 doubles, Ananda Kautz (Fr., Rio de Janeiro, BRA/Pleasant Valley H.S., CA) and Sarah Salazar (So., Belen, NM/St. Pius X H.S.) edged Eva Mineva and Fatima Arshad, 8-6. Nix and Betsy Cata (Jr., Espanola, NM/Espanola Valley H.S.) defeated Erica Juhl and Holly Smith, 8-5, at #3 doubles. Pennington won #4 singles over Juhl, 6-3, 6-4, and Salazar took the #5 singles match, 7-5, 6-0, over Arshad.

The two wins in singles action, clinched the overall win for ENMU. Northwood picked up three wins, as Neugebauer defeated Weinman, 6-4, 7-5, at #1 singles, Kotaskova edged Kautz, 6-3, 4-6 10-5 (tie-breaker to 10 points instead of third set), at #3 singles, and Smith defeated Cata, 6-2, 6-0, at #6 singles.

The #2 singles match between Nix and Mineva was stopped as soon as ENMU earned the team victory. In their match with Northern Colorado, the Zias won two of three doubles flights for a 2-1 lead heading into singles play. Kautz and Salazar defeated Lori Eslinger and Amber Alley at #2 doubles, 8-3.

Nix and Cata won #3 doubles over Mary Cimino and Melissa Redmond, 8-6. UNC was victorious at #1 doubles, as Jan Ikeda and Jodie Sato defeated Weinman and Pennington, 8-1.

The Zias won three singles flights to earn the team victory. Weinman’s win at #1 singles over Jan Ikeda was decided by a tie-breaker after the players split the first two sets. Weinman won, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6. Pennington defeated Alley, 6-1, 6-2, at #4 singles, and Salazar defeated Cimino, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, at #5 singles.

UNC achieved wins at #2 singles, #3 singles and #6 singles. Sato defeated Nix, 6-2, 5-7, 10-6 at #2 singles. Eslinger edged Kautz at #3 singles, 6-1, 2-6, 10-7. Redmond defeated Cata, 6-1, 6-1 at #6 singles.

ENMU and the three other flight champions advanced into the semifinals. The Zias, ranked #24 in NCAA Division II, will take on Ferris State University (Mich.), ranked #14, in one of the semifinal matches on Saturday, Apr. 14, for a berth in the championship match.