Athletic Report
March 9, 2001

MIDWESTERN STATE EDGES ENMU, 5-4
WICHITA FALLS, TX — Midwestern State University won four of six singles flights to overcome Eastern New Mexico University’s two-to-one lead in doubles, as the Indians defeated the Zias 5-4 in a Lone Star Conference tennis match, Mar. 9 in Wichita Falls, Texas. ENMU, ranked #10 in NCAA Division II, fell to 2-2 with the loss. MSU entered the match ranked #23 in Division II.

The Zias had to change their singles lineup after Sarah Pennington (Jr., Sweetwater, TX/ Sweetwater H.S.) was forced to withdraw due to injury. Pennington, who strained a ligament near her achilles tendon in practice on Thurs., Mar. 8, played doubles with partner Lisa Weinman (So., Albuquerque, NM/West Mesa H.S.), but was unable to continue during the singles matches. Sarah Salazar (So., Belen, NM/St. Pius X H.S.) moved up to #5 singles to fill Pennington’s usual spot in the lineup. Betsy Cata (Jr., Espanola, NM/Espanola Valley H.S.) played #6 singles.

Eastern’s #1 singles player, Layla Turner (Jr., Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union H.S.), ranked #4 in NCAA Division II, defeated MSU’s top player, Brooke Gray, 6-1 6-1. Bethanie Nix (Fr., Spring, TX/Newman Smith H.S.) won #3 singles for ENMU, defeating Marci Matthews in three sets, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.

MSU won the remaining singles flights, including a hard-fought match at #2 singles between Marsha Meyer and Weinman. Meyer won the first set, 6-2, then Weinman took the second set 7-6 after winning a lengthy tie-breaker, 14-12. Meyer was victorious in the third set, 6-4.

The Zias earned their early 2-1 lead by winning #1 and #3 doubles. Turner and Nix defeated Meyer and Matthews at #1 doubles, 8-1. Ananda Kautz (Fr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Pleasant Valley H.S., CA) and Salazar defeated Sara Butler and Jennifer Hays, 8-3, at #3 doubles. MSU won #2 doubles, as Gray and Emily Black downed Weinman and Pennington, 8-2.

The Zias will remain in Wichita Falls tomorrow (Saturday, Mar. 10) to take on LSC opponent Northeastern State University. Match time is scheduled for 8:00 a.m.