May 8, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Sophomore Tania Varela (Quito, Ecuador/Alliance Academy) of the Bucknell women's tennis team earned Patriot League Player of the Month honors for April, the league announced Thursday. Varela led the Bison this season at the No. 1 singles position and at the No. 1 doubles position, paired with freshman Lauren Lucido (Woodstock, Md./St. Paul's School for Girls).

In the month of April, Varela went 6-1 in singles at the No. 1 position and 6-1 in doubles at the No. 1 position, when paired with Lucido and when paired with junior Paulina Gamboa (Mexico City, Mexico/Greengates School) on one occasion. At the Patriot League Tournament, April 19-20, Varela went 4-0 overall, 2-0 at No. 1 singles and 2-0 at No. 1 doubles. Additionally, she earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors and was named Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week on April 21.

This spring, Varela went 9-4 overall at No. 1 singles and 11-3 overall at No. 1 doubles (10-3 with Lucido and 1-0 with Gamboa at No. 1). As a sophomore, Varela ranks 10th for all-time career doubles wins (40), 13th for combined wins (68) and 10th for winning percentage (.687).

The Bucknell women's tennis team closed out the 2008 season with a 9-11 overall record and 4-2 record in league play. The Bison placed second at the Patriot League tournament, falling to Army by a score of 4-3, in the closest championship match in league history.