Athletic Report
October 13, 2001

ZIAS COMPETE AT COLLIN COUNTY FALL TOURNAMENT
PLANO, TX — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s tennis team competed at the Collin County Community College Fall Open, Oct. 12-13 in Plano, Texas. Weather canceled the end of the tournament, but all three ENMU doubles teams reached the semifinals.

Sophomore Bethanie Nix (So., Big Spring, TX/Newman Smith H.S.) advanced to the finals of #2 singles and Janelle Sanchez (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/Cibola H.S.) lost in the finals of #3 singles before play was suspended. Lisa Weinman (Jr., Albuquerque, NM/West Mesa H.S.) won the #2 singles consolation bracket while tournament action was still underway.

The tournament included Collin County C.C., ENMU and several other two-year and four- year colleges and universities. ENMU and Southeastern Oklahoma State represented the Lone Star Conference. Also on hand was former LSC member Ouachita Baptist. No team scores were kept.

Nix defeated Tara McMullin from SE Oklahoma, 6-3, 6-0, in the first round of #2 singles. She downed Diana Ramirez of St. Mary’s University (TX) in the quarterfinals, then moved past Amanda Wood of Temple College, 6-3, 6-2, in the semifinals. If play had continued she would have met Sabrina Benitez of Ouachita Baptist in the finals.

Weinman lost to Benitez in the first round, but advanced through the consolation bracket on a default and two victories. She received a spot in the consolation semifinals when her quarterfinal opponent had to withdraw before the match began.Weinman defeated Rhiannon Ruth from North Central Texas College, 8-4, and Jennifer Hays of Midwestern State, 8-2, on her way to the consolation title.

At #1 singles, Eastern’s top player, Layla Turner (Sr., Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union) reached the semifinals before losing to the #3 seed Brenda Magnetti of Ouachita Baptist, 6-1, 6-4. Turner received a first round bye as the #2 seed, then defeated Brooke Gray of Midwestern State, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the semis.

Janelle Sanchez (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/Cibola H.S.) and Sarah Pennington (Sr., Sweetwater, TX/ Sweetwater H.S.) represented the Zias at #3 singles. Sanchez reached the finals by edging Pennington, 7-5, 7-5, in the semifinals.

Sanchez lost to Jeanette Robles of Arkansas Tech University in the title match, 6-3, 6-3. Sanchez opened #3 singles with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Amy Davis of Midwestern State. She defeated Melissa Taylor of Southwestern University, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.

Pennington earned an opening round triumph over Casey Danner of Ouachita Baptist, 6-0, 6-1, then routed Candace Davis of GSU, 6-1, 6-2, in the quarterfinals. Turner and Nix competed in #1 doubles. They received a first round bye, then shut out Sara Dolezalik and Tara McMullin of SE Oklahoma, 8-0, in the quarterfinals.

At #2 doubles, the ENMU team of Weinman and Pennington, defeated Melanie Kurtz and Sandra Smith of Southwestern University, 8-3, in the first round. Weinman and Pennington upset the #1 seed, Paola Almeida and Sonya Ortiz of St. Mary’s, 8-2, in the quarterfinals.

At #3 doubles, Sanchez and Sarah Salazar (Jr., Belen, NM/St. Pius X H.S.) opened with an 8-0 rout of Stephanie Hughs and Karoline Jacobs from the University of Texas at Tyler. Sanchez and Salazar slipped past Sharma Grav. and Ashley Leonard of North Central Texas, 8-5.

The ENMU fall season has been completed with the exception of the ITA/Rolex National Tournament, Oct. 18-21, in McKinney, Texas. Turner, who won the ITA/Rolex Central Regional title in singles, will represent Eastern at the National Tournament for the third straight season. She was 6th at the National Tournament in singles in 1999 and finished 4th in singles last year.