Athletic Report
May 3, 2002

ZIAS OPEN NCAA TOURNAMENT WITH 5-2 VICTORY OVER MIDWESTERN STATE
ABILENE, TX – The Eastern New Mexico University women’s tennis team opened the 2002 NCAA Division II National Tournament with a 5-2 victory over Lone Star Conference rival Midwestern State University in the first round of the Central Regional, Friday, May 3, at Abilene Christian University. The Zias, ranked #29 in NCAA Division II, will take on Abilene Christian, ranked #15, in the Regional Championship match at 10:00 a.m. (MDT) on Saturday, May 4. ACU defeated Cameron University, 5-0, in the other first round match.

ENMU lost two of three doubles matches against Midwestern State, but stormed back in the singles flights to defeat the Indians for the third time this season. Eastern improved its overall record to 14-3 on the season. MSU, ranked 39th in NCAA Division II, ended its season at 12-9.

Layla Turner (Sr., Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union H.S.), ranked #37 in NCAA Division II in singles, led Eastern’s comeback. She defeated Brooke Gray in the #1 singles match, 6-1, 6-3. Bethanie Nix (So., Spring, TX/Newman Smith H.S.) was victorious at #2 singles, as she defeated Tiffany Burgess, 6-0, 6-2. The Zias also won #3 and #4 singles to clinch the overall victory.

The #5 and #6 singles matches were discontinued as soon as ENMU reached five points in team scoring. MSU won #1 doubles, as Gray and Burgess defeated Lisa Weinman (Jr., Albuquerque, NM/West Mesa H.S.) and Sarah Pennington (Sr., Sweetwater, TX/Sweetwater H.S.), 8-2.

The Indians also won #2 doubles, with Emilee Black and Sara Butler edging Nix and Janelle Sanchez (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/Cibola H.S.), 8-6. Eastern registered its first point at #3 doubles, when Turner and Sarah Salazar (Jr., Belen, NM/St. Pius X H.S.) downed Lacey Wuthrich and Latisha Karber, 8-4. Eastern’s victory over MSU was the Zias’ fifth opening round triumph in six consecutive NCAA Regional appearances.

The Zias have reached the Regional championship match each of the past six seasons, except in 1997-98, when ENMU lost to ACU in the first round. The winner of Saturday’s championship match will advance to the NCAA National Finals in Kansas City, Mo., May 9-12. ENMU reached the National Finals two years ago in 1999-00.

(#29) Eastern New Mexico University 5, (#39) Midwestern State University 2
SINGLES
#1 -- Layla Turner (ENMU) defeated Brooke Gray (MSU), 6-1, 6-3
#2 -- Bethanie Nix (ENMU) defeated Tiffany Burgess (MSU), 6-0, 6-2
#3 -- Lisa Weinman (ENMU) defeated Latisha Karber (MSU), 6-3, 6-2
#4 -- Janelle Sanchez (ENMU) defeated Emilee Black (MST), 6-1, 6-3
#5 -- Match not completed (Sarah Pennington, ENMU, vs. Sara Butler, MSU)
#6 -- Match not completed (Sarah Salazar, ENMU, vs. Lacey Wuthrich, MSU) DOUBLES
#1 -- Gray and Burgess (MSU) defeated Weinman and Pennington (ENMU), 8-2
#2 -- Black and Butler (MSU) defeated Nix and Sanchez (ENMU), 8-6
#3 -- Turner and Salazar (ENMU) defeated Wuthrich and Karber (MSU), 8-4