Zias Open Spring Season with Wins over East Central and Collin County CC

PLANO, TX – The Eastern New Mexico University women’s tennis team, ranked #23 in NCAA Division II, opened its spring schedule with a 9-0 rout of Lone Star Conference foe East Central University, Feb. 20, at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas. ENMU also defeated Collin County CC, 8-1, on Feb. 21. The Zias were originally scheduled to play other matches, but two teams withdrew from the tournament field.
ENMU is officially 1-0 on the season. The NCAA only counts matches played against four-year college opponents.

Head Coach Christine Blaeser has been teaching the Zias new strategies in singles play, while encouraging a more aggressive approach in doubles matches. In the opener against ECU, the Zias put Blaeser’s instructions to good use.

“We have been working on several strategies and individual skills that I was excited to see them use out on the court in competition,” Blaeser said. “They executed extremely well. The girls were also very focused in their execution.”

Lisa Weinman (Sr., Albuquerque, NM/West Mesa HS) defeated Summer Nelson of ECU, 6-4, 6-3, at #1 singles. She also teamed with Bethanie Nix (Jr., Spring, TX/Newman Smith HS) to defeat Nelson and Erin Hibbard, 8-0, at #1 doubles. Nix defeated Lisa Buitron, 6-1, 6-1, in the #2 singles match.

Overall, the Zias lost just four games in winning all three pro-sets in doubles. In addition to Weinman and Nix at #1 doubles, the Zias also receiving a winning effort from Rhiannon Torrez (Fr., Cedar Park, TX/Cedar Park HS) and Janelle Sanchez (So., Albuquerque, NM/Cibola HS) at #2 doubles. They defeated Buitron and Amanda Rhynes, 8-3. The #3 doubles match was won by Eastern’s team of Sarah Salazar (Sr., Belen, NM/Saint Pius X HS) and Erica Kelly (Fr., Stockton, CA/Tokay HS), who downed Miranda Kieffer and Taronish Irani, 8-1.

Torrez had a challenging first set at #3 singles, as she edged Hibbard, 6-4. Torrez easily won the second set, 6-1. Salazar recorded the day’s only complete sweep in singles, as she defeated Rhynes, 6-0, 6-0, in the #5 singles match.

Against Collin County, the Zias took an early 3-0 lead by winning all three doubles flights. At #1 doubles, Weinman and Nix, defeated Kim Beynon and Erica Ramirez, 8-1. Torrez and Sanchez won #2 doubles over Becca Carter and Mandy Beynon, 8-0. Salazar and Kelly downed Brittanie Blocker and Lisa Donahue, 8-1.

Weinman and Nix each won their single matches in a 10-point tie-breaker for the third set. Weinman edged Ramirez, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 10-4. Nix slipped past Kim Beynon, 6-1, 2-6, 10-4. ENMU won #3, #4 and #6 singles in straight sets. Collin County’s only victory was at #5 singles, where Mandy Beynon, slipped past Sarah Salazar, 2-6, 6-0, 10-6.

The Zias return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 26, with two matches against LSC opponent Abilene Christian University. ACU is currently ranked #?? in NCAA Division II. The Zias and the Wildcats will play the first match at 10 a.m. (MST), with the second match set for 2 p.m. (MST).

College Women’s Tennis
February 20, 2003 • Plano, Texas

#23 - Eastern New Mexico University 9 (1-0 Overall)
East Central University (Okla.) 0 (0-1 Overall)

Singles
#1 - Lisa Weinman (ENMU) defeated Summer Nelson (ECU), 6-4, 6-3
#2 - Bethanie Nix (ENMU) defeated Lisa Buitron (ECU), 6-1, 6-1
#3 - Rhiannon Torrez (ENMU) defeated Erin Hibbard (ECU), 6-4, 6-1
#4 - Janelle Sanchez (ENMU) defeated Miranda Kieffer (ECU), 6-1, 6-1
#5 - Sarah Salazar (ENMU) defeated Amanda Rhynes (ECU), 6-0, 6-0
#6 - Erica Kelly (ENMU) defeated Taronish Irani (ECU), 6-1, 6-0

Doubles
#1 - Weinman and Nix (ENMU) defeated Nelson and Hibbard (ECU), 8-0
#2 - Torrez and Sanchez (ENMU) defeated Buitron and Rhynes (ECU), 8-3
#3 - Salazar and Kelly (ENMU) defeated Keiffer and Irani (ECU), 8-1

February 21, 2003 • Plano, Texas

#23 - Eastern New Mexico University 8 (2-0 Overall, 1-0 NCAA)
Collin County Community College 0

Singles
#1 - Lisa Weinman (ENMU) defeated Erica Ramirez (CCCC), 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 10-4*
#2 - Bethanie Nix (ENMU) defeated Kim Beynon (CCCC), 6-1, 2-6, 10-4*
#3 - Rhiannon Torrez (ENMU) defeated Brittanie Blocker (CCCC), 6-1, 6-0
#4 - Janelle Sanchez (ENMU) defeated Billie Blocker (CCCC), 6-0, 6-1
#5 - Mandy Beynon (CCCC) defeated Sarah Salazar (ENMU), 2-6, 6-0, 10-6*
#6 - Erica Kelly (ENMU) defeated Becca Carter (CCCC), 6-1, 6-3

Doubles
#1 - Weinman and Nix (ENMU) defeated Kim Beynon and Ramirez (CCCC), 8-1
#2 - Torrez and Sanchez (ENMU) defeated Carter and Mandy Beynon (CCCC), 8-0
#3 - Salazar and Kelly (ENMU) defeated Brittanie Blocker and Lisa Donahue (CCCC), 8-1
* Tie-breaker played instead of third set