ENMU Opens 2005 Season with 1-2 Record

Box Score - Match 1 - Midwestern State 9, ENMU 0
Box Score - Match 2 - East Central 6, ENMU 3
Box Score - Match 3 - ENMU 6, SE Oklahoma 3

PLANO, TEXAS — A shorthanded Eastern New Mexico University Zia tennis team began the 2005 season with three Lone Star Conference matches played Feb. 25-26 in Plano, Texas. The Zias lost on opening day to Midwestern State University, 9-0, and to East Central University, 6-3. ENMU rebounded on the second day to record its first victory of the season, as the Zias defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 6-3. Eastern achieved a 1-2 record during the weekend.

ENMU began the season minus one player, freshman Cassidy Bancks (Marysville, British Columbia, Canada/Selkirk Secondary and Mount Baker Secondary), who is suffering from kidney stones. The Zias will likely have to wait several weeks for her return. With only five active players, Eastern was forced to default the #6 singles and #3 doubles flights against all three opponents.

In the first match, the Zias faced Midwestern State, which advanced to the finals of the NCAA Division II Central Regional in Abilene, Texas, last season. MSU won all of the singles and doubles flights against ENMU to take a 9-0 victory and improve to 3-1 on the season.

The afternoon match-up had ENMU paired with East Central. Elise Jacques (Jr., Austin, TX/Westwood HS) and Erica Kelly (Jr., Stockton, CA/Tokay HS) of ENMU went down at #1 doubles, 8-5. Eastern’s Kristen Van Wettering (So., Portales, NM/Portales HS) and Ivy Moquino (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte HS) won a hard fought match at #2 doubles, 9-7, against Katrina Cousins and Jessica Lobnitz.

After losing the first three singles flights, the Zias recorded their first victory in singles when Moquino defeated Lobnitz, 6-2, 6-1, in the #4 flight. Ashley Toye (Fr., Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada/Mount Boucherie Secondary) of ENMU defeated Amanda Rynes at #5 singles, winning 7-5, 6-2. ECU won the overall match, 6-3.

On the final day in Plano, Eastern took on Southeastern Oklahoma. At #1 doubles, Jacques and Kelly won 8-2 over Ashley Beaumont and Theresa Northam. Van Wettering and Moquino did not fair as well, losing the #2 doubles flight to Billie Blocker and Lisa Donahue, 8-2.

In #1 singles, Jacques easily defeated Lisa Donahue, 6-1, 6-0. Kelly was solid at #2 singles, winning 6-3, 6-4 against Billie Blocker. Van Wettering, at #3 singles, had to go to a tie-breaker after splitting the first two sets, then prevailed over Kelly Langford 6-4, 4 6, 10-7. Eastern swept the first five singles flights, as the Zias recorded thier first match victory of the season, 6-3.

The ENMU tennis team will travel to Abilene, Texas, next weekend for four matches on Mar. 4-5. On the first day, the Zias will begin play Tarleton State University at 9 a.m. MST and will face Abilene Christian University at 1 p.m. MST. On the second day, Eastern is scheduled to play Western New Mexico University at 8 a.m. MST, before concluding the weekend against Hardin-Simmons University at 1 p.m. MST.