Nicholls State University - La Pirogue Yearbook (Thibodaux, LA)

Page 126 text:

,in W sv . an , ' -i. .- f ' A 4 A 17 ,FYNM Watcnlng tne vvomen's tennls team so rntently lSjUl'1IOl Rene l-lunt Rene plays on botb the vvomen's volleyball and basketball teams. I 5 Womenslennls ff co Un fe mu e mn Ib ca SP as V! ' nu il' vw J S, 2 'AEXM' . . .. . Q .,,, 1-WMM sf-K, X +xi,,- ya Jane Morgan and Sharon Robicneaux are the number one doubles partners tor the Lady Colonels. Jane is one of two graduating senlors on this year's team

Page 125 text:

? v Y 1 xr H xx 'x 'J With the fence outlining the courts, Kuldip Singh and Jens Holland walk off, victors in the number three doubles of the Gulf South Conference Tour- nament, Bringing Each that rifle Kedah, Malaysia. The average age of the Colonel tennis team vvas 19.3 years. During regular season play, they finished 8-8, The team reg- istered victories over Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State Ctvvicey, Troy State, Eastern Michigan, Grambling, and Sam Houston State Ctvvicej. The team lost to Northwestern Louisiana Ctvvicej, Tulane, Wichita State, the University of Minnesota, Northeast Louisiana, Mississippi State and the University of Southvvestern Louisiana. The only GSC opponent played during the regular season was Troy State of Alabama, vvith the Colonels getting a 9-O vvin. In tournament play, the squad finished a surprise second in the University of Southern Mississippi Big Gold Tournament in Hattieburg, Miss. Ulf Eriksson, Kuldip Singh and Jens Holland reached the sin- gles finals, Carlos Echavarria vvon the consolation singles, while Ricardo Toro and Ulf Eriksson vvon the consolation doubles. The Gulf South Conference Tournament vvas held at Nicholls, with the Colonel team dominating like they had years before, taking five out of six singles and tvvo out of three doubles for the GSC title. Kai Hilding vvon the number one singles, Ulf Eriksson the number tvvo singles and Carlos Echavarria the number three singles. Kuldip Singh lost in the finals of the number four singles to Joel Selzer of Southeastern Louisiana, Jens Holland and Humberto Duque vvon the fifth and sixth place singles respectively. ln doubles competition, Hilding-Echavarria took the number one position vvhile the Southeastern team of Mike Cousin-Fred- die Acosta defeated Eriksson-Toro for the second spot. ln the closest matches of the tournament, the Lion pair vvon 7-6, 7-6. Eriksson-Toro had made it to the finals, after a come from behind vvin 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the opening round. The third doubles match vvent to Singh-Holland and the GSC Coach of the Year Avvard to Randy Raymond for his second year turn-around job. The All-GSC tennis team vvas composed of the winners of the singles and doubles matches, so vvith the exception of Ricardo Toro Cvvho competed only in doubles playb the entire Nicholls squad made the team. Kuldip Singh's vvin in the doubles made up for his singles loss. Less than a month later, NCAA national tournament invita- tions vvere issued, vvith Nicholls' Carlos Echavarria, Kai Hilding and Jens Holland going to the campus of Northvvest Missouri State. Dominance of the GSC didn't extend to the NCAA tourna- ment as all three vvere eliminated in first round singles, and Echavarria-Holland vvere also eliminated in the doubles, With only team captain Carlos Echavarria graduating, the team looks to be even better vvith a year's experience behind them. Echavarria finished his career at Nicholls having been named All-GSC four years in a rovv, a feat never done before at Nic- holls. The GSC trophy vvas back in the hands vvhich had kept it tour of the past five years. Dominance had returned, and it felt pretty good. Bringing Back That Title 2

Page 127 text:

Q - ilflrttritt it dvr? secscoitiirifi SSCQQBSSCQDW 4. 4. Patrice Hidalgo hits a torehand shot in her singles match at the state tourna- The team met with me University of Southwestern Louisiana ment hosted by Northeast Louisiana University. Patrice will be graduating, after having served as the team's captain during its two years of existence. 4 With the return of tour members, the women's tennis team began its second year of play. The team, coached by Carolyn Self, saw the return of seniors Jane Morgan and Patrice Hidalgo, and sophomores Sharon Ftobicheaux and Mary King. Newcomers to the team are senior Jana Picou and freshman Mary Anne Batres. The Lady Colonels had hopes for a better season, counting on the experience of their first year of play. However, with strong competition from other schools, the women did not do as well as had been expected. ln a match with Northwestern State University, the ladies were able to secure three wins, with Picou and Batres winning their no. 3 doubles 6-3, 6-2, Ftobicheaux's win in no. 1 singles 6-4, 6-2, and King's win, 6-1 , 6-4, in no. 2 singles. Results were not as good in matches with Louisiana State University, in which the women were defeated in all matches. Nicholls met LSU twice and was beaten both times. LSU, how- ever, was ranked first in the state, and offered the tough compe- tition of a much larger university. .I U. in twice. ln the first meeting, USL defeated the women in all matches. ln the second match, Nicholls came back in the sin- gles competition, with three wins. Pobicheaux won her no. 1 singles 6-O, 6-1 , King in no. 2 singles 6-O, 6-2, and Picou won in no. 5 singles 6-2, 6-3. In the only match with Southeastern Louisiana University, the women were able to win some decisive victories. King and Hidalgo won in no. 2 doubles, with scores of 6-2, 6-2. The ladies also captured four out of six wins in singles competition, with Robicheaux in no. 1 singles 6-4, 6-3, King in no. 2 singles 6-4, 6-Og Morgan in no. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-1, and Hidalgo in no. 4 singles 6-2, 6-1. Sharon Ftobicheaux, Nicholls no. 1 player, finished the regu- lar season with a 3-3 record in singles play, and an O-6 record in doubles competition. Sharon faced stiff competition in her no. 1 position, playing against Kay McDaniels of LSU, ranked no. 1 in the state, and Dawn Herrington of Tulane, who ranks in sec- ond place. This is the last year of competition for seniors Jane Morgan and Patrice Hidalgo who graduate this year. Patrice is also a member of the women's volleyball team. At the state tournament, the women were eliminated from the .aEh1 'l'l :- W 7 ..,-.,-... .-.M ---.-. h? , - . .-:rw-tx.l.,.-41.4, ,-,ww .. A: sk Lil:-LL 1 :A 'VZ . V x A, ,N r X.-I , I i '-.'. '..'.sa.... .....,..,I, .,-.. ,i....,,,u...-M.. -Q a .l '- - ---....., . 49 Jana Picou leaves the ground for a backhand shot in her singles match at the state tournament. This is Jana's first year on the team, Mary King returns a shot to Northwestern's Janie Wal- lace and Peggy Ates in a doubles match at the state tournament, held in Monroe. C d I Womens Tennis 123