April 12, 2008

Despite two flight cancellations, a drive to Laredo in the middle of the night, three hours of sleep, a 5:10 am flight the day of the match, and a bit of jet lag the women's team stepped off the plane and defeated San Jose State 6-1.

With the 6-1 victory, the Lady Broncs broke the school single season record for wins by notching their 16th win of the season.

"I was really proud of the women's team today," said head men`s tennis coach Rob Hubbard. "Despite all the trouble getting here they walked off the plane onto the court and got the job done."

Tired and exhausted from the previous day, the Lady Broncs were able to capture the doubles point and head into singles' play with a 1-0 advantage.

Giana Oliveira and Julia Cirne-Lima dropped the top flight with a 8-6 setback against Ashley Tavita and Amber Silverstone while Silke Buksik and Megan Bedeau handed Sanda Hadzisabic and Anna Guzman a 8-2 loss in the second flight.

The tandem tied the singles season doubles' record for wins with their 18th victory of the year.

In the third flight, Stephanie Willerding and Luisa Cantu posted a 8-6 victory over Dana Popescu and Jennifer Williams.

With a 1-0 lead, the Lady Broncs headed into singles' action determined to set a new school record and capture their 16th win of the season.

Oliveira dropped her match by scores of 6-3, 6-3 to Ashley Tavita while Bedeau collected a 0-6, 6-2, and 6-4 win over Silverstone playing in the number-two spot in the rotation.

In the third spot of the lineup, Cirne-Lima handed Silvana Dukic a 3-6, 6-3, and 7-5 setback while Willerding won her match by scores of 6-1, 6-0 against Hadzisabic playing in the number-four spot in the rotation.

Winning her 19th match of the season was senior captain Buksik who recorded a 7-5, 6-4 win in the fifth spot in the lineup while Cantu captured a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6, and 10-3 victory in the sixth position in the rotation.

"I said earlier this year that this was a special team and they showed that today." "They now own the best single season record (currently 16-7 with 2 matches to go) in the women's tennis program history," concluded Hubbard.

The Lady Broncs will be back in action tomorrow with a match-up against San Francisco State followed by a face-off with Santa Clara on Monday at 1 p.m.

On a side note, the Broncs scheduled match between Portland State was postponed due to two American Airlines flight cancellations.

UTPA Sports Information