Athletic Report
December 12, 2001

ENMU WOMEN'S TENNIS RANKED #11 IN NCAA DIVISION II
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s tennis team is ranked 11th in the NCAA Division II National Rankings for Fall 2001, as released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The Zias, who went 10-8 and qualified for their fifth consecutive NCAA National Tournament berth last season, were ranked 26th in the Final NCAA Division II Poll for 2000-01.

ENMU’s top player, Layla Turner (Sr., Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union H.S.) is ranked #7 nationally in NCAA Division II Singles. She is also ranked #1 in the Midwest Region. This fall, Turner won the ITA/Rolex Regional singles title for the third consecutive year and finished third at the ITA/Rolex National Tournament in Plano, Texas. Turner was ranked #18 nationally at the end of the 2000-01 season.

Turner and doubles partner Bethanie Nix (So., Birmingham, AL/Newman Smith H.S.) are ranked #20 nationally in NCAA Division II Doubles. Turner and Nix are ranked #5 in the Midwest Region. They reached the semifinals of the ITA/Rolex Regional Tournament this fall, before losing to eventual champions Lacy Johnson and Kristen Chumley of Abilene Christian University.

The Zias are ranked #2 in the Midwest Region as a team. ENMU trails only Abilene Christian in the Regional rankings. Eastern had an outstanding fall season. The Zias look forward to the spring portion of the schedule, when they will battle for the Lone Star Conference title and go after their sixth straight NCAA Tournament berth.

The Zias have recorded three consecutive winning seasons, and are 46-22 (.676) since the start of the 1998-99 season. Head Coach Christine Blaeser, now in her 12th season with the Zias, has achieved a record of 88-64 (.579) over the past seven seasons.

NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAM RANKINGS
(Compiled by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association; Released Dec. 12, 2001)
#1 Lynn University (Fla.)
#2 Brigham Young-Hawaii
#3 University of West Florida
#4 Armstrong Atlantic (Ga.)
#5 Rollins College (Fla.)
#6 Grand Canyon (Ariz.)
#7 Abilene Christian (Texas)
#8 U. of California - Davis
#9 Univ. of North Florida
#10 Clayton State (Ga.)
#11 Eastern New Mexico
#12 Univ. of Calif. - San Diego
#13 Georgia College
#14 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
#15 Florida Southern
#16 Hawaii Pacific
#17 Northwood Univ. (Mich.)
#18 Delta State Univ. (Miss.)
#19 Harding University (Ark.)
#20 Kennesaw State (Ga.)
#21 University of Hawaii-Hilo
#22 Lees-McRae College (N.C.)
#23 Northern Michigan
#24 West Liberty State (W.V.)
#25 Northeastern State (Okla.)
#26 Sonoma State (Calif.)
#27 Ferris State Univ. (Mich.)
#28 Presbyterian College (S.C.)
#29 Francis Marion Univ. (S.C.)
#30 Univ. of N.C. - Pembroke