Jan. 26, 2008

It was a win like no other for the University of Texas-Pan American women's tennis team, as they handed and upset Air Force 4-3 in Lubbock, TX on Friday (Jan. 26).

The Lady Broncs pulled off one of the biggest and most exciting wins in UTPA women's tennis history, as the deciding match-point was in the hands of Luisa Cantu (Victoria, Tamps, Mexico/Colegio Jose de Escandon).

Playing in the number-six line-up position, Cantu came from behind to tie her opponent and in her next set the lights in the McLeod Tennis Center shut-off. Twenty minutes later, tennis play resumed and in grand fashion Cantu recorded one of the biggest wins of her career 6-2,6-3 over Erlyn Rudico.

In other doubles action, Giana Oliveira (Santa Anna, Brazil) and Julia Cirne-Lima (Porto Alegre, Brazil/Eckerd College) suffered a 9-7 setback over Lauren Wilson and Erika Shortridge, in the top flight.

Silke Buksik (Waiblingen, Germany/Salier-Gymnasium Waiblingen) and Megan Bedeau (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada/Northview Heights S.S.) collected a 8-4 victory over Meghan Kiser and Christine Abayan in the number-two spot while Stephanie Willerding (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Northview Heights S.S.) and Cantu dropped a 8-4 decision to Samantha Sarkis and Rudico in the number-three spot in the rotation.

In singles' action, Oliveira fell to Wilson 6-1,6-3 in the number-one position while Cirne-Lima handed Abayan a 6-7, 6-2 and 6-2 setback in the number-two spot of the lineup.

Willerding dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Sarkis in the number-three spot while Bedeau recorded a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Kiser in the number-four spot of the rotation. Buksik posted a 6-2, 6-3 win over Sarah Cassman in the number-five spot of the lineup.

Senior captain, Buksik and Bedeau were the only two Lady Broncs to capture their doubles and singles matches.

The Lady Broncs will be back in action today when they face-off against Texas Tech at 3 p.m. at the McLeod Tennis Complex in Lubbock, TX.

UTPA Sports Information