Athletic Report
May 5, 2001

ZIAS FALL TO FERRIS STATE IN MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
TOPEKA, KS — Ferris State University (Mich.), ranked #16 in NCAA Division II, won all three doubles flights on its way to a 5-0 victory over 26th-ranked Eastern New Mexico University, May 5 in the Midwest Regional Championship match in Topeka, Kan. Ferris State improved to 22-5 and advanced to the 16-team National Finals in Pensacola, Fla., May 10-13. ENMU concluded its season with a 10-8 overall record.

FSU took control of the match by sweeping the doubles flights. Jennifer Garvey and Barbora Jilkova, ranked #12 in NCAA Division II, defeated Layla Turner (Jr., Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union H.S.) and Bethanie Nix (Fr., Spring, TX/Newman Smith H.S.), ranked #22, 8-5 at #1 singles.

The Bulldogs’ #2 doubles team of Ellen Frost and Suzanne Batten downed Eastern’s team of Lisa Weinman (So., Albuquerque, NM/West Mesa H.S.) and Sarah Pennington (Jr., Sweetwater, TX/Sweetwater H.S.), 8-4. At #3 doubles, Amy Tylutki and Hulda Grin defeated Ananda Kautz (Fr., Rio de Janeiro, BRA/Pleasant Valley H.S., CA) and Sarah Salazar (So., Belen, NM/Saint Pius X H.S.), 8-2. Ferris State won the first two singles matches to reach completion, giving the Bulldogs an insurmountable 5-0 lead.

The remaining singles flights were halted as soon as FSU clinched the Regional title. Jilkova won #2 singles, defeating Weinman, 6-2, 6-1. FSU’s other victory came at #4 singles, where Batten defeated Kautz, 6-2, 6-3. The #1 singles match between ENMU’s Turner, ranked #16, and Ferris State’s Garvey, ranked #29, was still in progress when the overall match ended.

ENMU’s appearance in the Midwest Regional concluded an outstanding season for the Zias. Eastern played a highly-competitive schedule, and earned wins over respected teams from Northern Colorado, Midwestern State, Central Oklahoma, Northwood (Mich.) and Washburn.

The Zias also took fourth place at the Lone Star Conference tournament. Eastern’s bid to the NCAA National Tournament was its fifth in as many seasons.