For Immediate Release: February 9, 2001
Contact: Derek Smolik, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations

UTPA Women’s Tennis Splits Pair of Matches Against Texas Lutheran, Nicholls State

Photos from the Match

EDINBURG – Celine Merlini continued her winning ways and helped the University of Texas-Pan American women’s tennis team to a split of a pair of matches held at the Cox Tennis Courts on Friday afternoon.  UTPA defeated Texas Lutheran 7-0, and dropped a tough 4-3 decision to Nicholls State.

Merlini, a freshman from Vevey, Switzerland, is now 15-4 on the season after winning her fourth and fifth straight matches in dominating fashion.  Merlini defeated Catherine Gauthler of Nicholls State, 6-1, 6-1; and Allison Wright of Texas Southern 6-0, 6-1.

The decisive point in the first match, against Nicholls State, came in doubles.  With the score tied at 3-3 after singles play, Nicholls swept the number one and number two doubles matches by 8-3 and 8-4 counts to take the doubles point and the match, 4-3.  Also picking up singles wins against Nicholls State were Alana Breen and Mireya Villareal.   Erica Espinoza, playing in her first collegiate match against Amy Prause of Texas Lutheran, won by a 6-3, 6-1 count.  She also teamed with Breen to win her first-ever doubles match as well.

The Lady Broncs (4-3) return to action on Sunday when they host Division II Incarnate Word at the Cox Tennis Courts at 1 p.m.

Nicholls State 4, UTPA 3

Singles
No. 1 – Celine Merlini (UTPA) d. Catherine Gauthler (NSU), 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 – Virsinic Villani (NSU) d. Eve Nickelson (UTPA), 6-1, ret. inj.
No. 3 – Sandra Gloria (NSU) d. Julie Fife (UTPA), 6-2, 6-0
No. 4 – Rachel Wood (NSU) d. Jessica Brown (UTPA), 6-1, 6-3
No. 5 – Alana Breen (UTPA) d. Lindsey Reecht (NSU), 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 – Mireya Villareal (UTPA) won by default

Doubles
No. 1 – Gloria/Villani (NSU) d. Fife/Merlini (UTPA), 8-3
No. 2 – Gauthler/Wade (NSU) d. Brown/Nickelson (UTPA), 8-4
No. 3 – Breen/Villareal (UTPA) won by default

UTPA 7, Texas Lutheran 0

Singles
No. 1 – Celine Merlini (UTPA) d. Allison Wright (TL), 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 – Julie Fife (UTPA) d. Monika Mayer (TL), 7-6, 6-0
No. 3 – Jessica Brown (UTPA) d. Carolyn Dahse (TL), 6-1, 6-0
No. 4 – Alana Breen (UTPA) d. Karina Mayer (TL), 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 – Mireya Villareal (UTPA) d. Angie Schiemlbein (TL), 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 – Erica Espinoza (UTPA) d. Amy Prause (TL), 6-3, 6-1

Doubles
No. 1 – Brown/Nickelson (UTPA) d. Dahse/Wright (TL), 8-0
No. 2 – Fife/Villareal (UTPA) d. Mayer/Mayer (TL), 8-4
No. 3 – Breen/Espinoza (UTPA) d. Prause/Schiemlbein (TL), 8-2

Record: UTPA 4-3