Women's tennis player earns C-USA honor

[PonyPride]

Women's tennis player Georgina Marta earns Conference USA tennis Athlete of the Week
First honor for Marta and women's tennis

March 22, 2006

DALLAS (SMU) - Conference USA announced today that Georgina Marta of the SMU women's tennis team has been honored with her first Conference USA Tennis Athlete of the Week, while Tulsa's Arnau Brugues (four times) and Rice's Robert Searle (second time) are recent winners of the accolades.

Marta helped the Mustangs sweep Arkansas State last Friday as the junior controlled her opponent, Zeljka Minic at the No. 3 spot, 6-0, 6-2. Marta continues to prove herself as a clutch player, capturing three match-clinching wins for the Ponies. It again came down to the last set of the last two matches going on at No. 3 and No. 6 singles. In a marathon match that lasted a little over four hours, 43rd-ranked SMU rallied for a 4-3 win against No. 64 Arkansas. After the No. 1, 2 and 5 singles concluded and the score, 3-1, the Mustangs would have to win the remaining three matches for a victory. Wins were pulled out in the No. 5 and 6 singles spot as all eyes went to the No. 3 courts where Marta battled No. 45 Ela Kaluder. After losing the first set, Marta fought hard for the second set win against at the Kaluder. With the sets split and all of the other matches finished, the entire match weighed on the outcome of the final set at the No. 3 singles. The score was kept close throughout the match, but Marta came through in the clutch, rallying for the 7-5 win, clinching the match and team win. The Mustangs are now 10-5 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. The squad will next head to Houston on Friday, March 24 to battle league opponent, Rice.

2006 TENNIS ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
J24 M- Ralph Knupfer, Rice
W- Lynzee Kever, Marshall
J31 M- Micheal Jetter, Memphis
W- Teri Wilkerson, UTEP
W- Loli Gomez, Houston
F7 M- Arnau Brugues, Tulsa
W- Vicky Simpson, Houston
F15 M- Alex Skrypko, SMU
W- Ali Blackett, Southern Miss
F21 M- Arnau Brugues, Tulsa
W- Kellie Schmitt, Marshall
M1 M- Sinan Sudas, UCF
W- Sherry Price, Southern Miss
M7 M- Tony Haerle & Robert Searle, Rice
W- Christine Dao, Rice
M15 M- Arnau Brugues, Tulsa
W- Santie Delport, Tulsa
M22 M- Arnau Brugues, Tulsa
M- Robert Searle, Rice
W- Georgina Marta, SMU