Athletic Report
May 8, 2001

TURNER NAMED TO LSC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON
PORTALES, NM — Eastern New Mexico University’s top singles and doubles player, Layla Turner (Jr., Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union H.S.), has been named to the 2001 Lone Star Conference All-Academic Women’s Tennis Team, as selected by the LSC sports information directors. Turner also was selected for the LSC All-Academic Team in 1999-00.

Student-athletes with at least a 3.2 grade point average and 24 or more semester hours at an LSC member institution were eligible for the LSC All-Academic Team. Turner was one of just six players selected for the honor this season. Players named to the All-Academic Team, plus all other nominees, were named to the LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Turner, an Elementary Education major with a 3.683 cumulative grade point average, is ranked #16 nationally in NCAA Division II in singles. Turner and doubles partner Bethanie Nix (Fr., Spring, TX/Newman Smith H.S.) are ranked #22 nationally in doubles. Turner helped the Zias finish the 2000-01 season with a 10-8 dual match record, while earning their fifth consecutive NCAA Division II National Tournament berth and claiming fourth place at the LSC Tournament.

ENMU competed in the Midwest Regional in Topeka, Kan., where the Zias defeated host Washburn University, 5-1, on May 4, before losing to Ferris State University (Mich.), 5-0, in the Regional championship match on May 5.

In three seasons at ENMU, Turner has achieved a career record of 71-14 (.835) in singles and a career doubles record of 62-23 (.729). She has been nationally ranked all three seasons, and has qualified for the prestigious ITA/Rolex National Tournament twice.

In 1999-00, she placed 5th in doubles and 6th in singles. This past season, she placed 4th in singles. Turner and Nix reached the finals of the 2000-01 ITA/Rolex Regional Tournament in doubles, but did not qualify for the National Tournament. ENMU played a highly-competitive schedule during the 2000-01 season, and earned wins over respected teams from Northern Colorado, Midwestern State, Central Oklahoma, Northwood (Mich.) and Washburn.

Head Coach Christine Blaeser, who has coached women’s tennis at ENMU for 11 years, has guided the Zias to an 88-64 record (.579) the past seven seasons. The Zias have earned a 46-22 record (.676) since Turner’s freshman season in 1998-99.