March 25, 2005

Results

BEAUMONT - A gusty singles performance by sophomore Tara Shelander propelled the Lamar women's tennis team to a 4-3 non-conference win over Abilene Christian on Friday afternoon at the Cardinal Courts.

The win lifted the Lady Cardinals to 10-6 on the year, while ACU fell to 14-4 with the loss. Lamar returns to action on Wednesday, Mar. 30 with another non-conference tilt against Louisiana-Lafayette at the Cajun Courts in Lafayette.

Shelander, a native of Beaumont, turned in the match-clinching win for Lamar at the No. 2 singles spot, where she improved to 11-5 on the year. The first-year Lady Cardinal overcame severe leg cramps to pull out a three-set thriller against ACU's Ashley Hawk-Caperton. Shelander dropped the first set 4-6, before rallying to win the next two frames, 6-2 and 7-5.

Sophomore Andrea Martinez kept pace with Shelander at 11-5, as the Durango, Mexico native topped ACU's No. 1 (Summer Beesley) in straight sets, 6-0 and 6-3. Senior Hayley Bakker also won for the Lady Cards with a two-set triumph over the Lady Wildcats' Rachel Taylor, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

LU's No. 4 through 6 singles players came up on the short end of straight set decisions. Junior Kendall Gibbs and freshman Marion Brument put up solid efforts, but both lost in close matches.

In doubles play, the Lady Cards posted wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. Martinez and Shelander won a league-best 15th straight match with a 9-7 win over ACU's top squad of Beesley and Taylor. Bakker and Brument improved to 10-2 on the year with their sixth straight win, taking out Meagan Brown and Lauren Yarbrough, 8-2. ACU's lone doubles win was an 8-1 win at No. 2, as Lana Pavlin and Holly Lindloff dropped Gibbs and freshman Marine LeRoy.

Lamar University 4, Abilene Christian 3
Singles competition:
1. Andrea Martinez (LAMAR) def. Summer Beesley (ACU) 6-0, 6-3
2. Tara Shelander (LAMAR) def. Ashley Hawk-Caperton (ACU) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Hayley Bakker (LAMAR) def. Rachel Taylor (ACU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Lana Pavlin (ACU) def. Marion Brument (LAMAR) 7-5, 6-4
5. Meagan Brown (ACU) def. Kendall Gibbs (LAMAR) 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
6. Holly Lindloff (ACU) def. Marine LeRoy (LAMAR) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition:
1. Andrea Martinez/Tara Shelander (LAMAR) def. Summer Beesley/Rachel Taylor (ACU) 9-7
2. Lana Pavlin/Holly Lindloff (ACU) def. Kendall Gibbs/Marine LeRoy (LAMAR) 8-1
3. Hayley Bakker/Marion Brument (LAMAR) def. Meagan Brown/Lauren Yarbrough (ACU) 8-2