May 21, 2009

BEAUMONT - Lamar University women's tennis standout Maria Gutierrez added another accomplishment to her stellar senior season, as she was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District VI University Division First team on Thursday.

Gutierrez, a native of San Antonio, Venezuela, who has a 3.93 GPA in civil engineering, earned District VI University Division first team honors for the first time in her career, and CoSIDA Academic All District honors for the third straight season. As a sophomore and junior she was selected to the second team. By virtue of being named first team all-district, Gutierrez will move on to the national ballot for CoSIDA Academic All American honors.

On the court Gutierrez was a dominant force during Southland Conference play, posting a record of 11-0 against league foes, while going 20-3 overall in singles play. In doubles play she spent the majority of the season paired with her sister Mariaryeni Gutierrez at No. 1, where she amassed a record of 15-8. By virtue of her undefeated singles record during SLC play, she was named First Team All-Southland Conference.

As a junior she helped the Lady Cardinals to the best finish in school history and a trip to the NCAA Tournament after they captured their first Southland Conference Tournament crown in school history. They posted a season record of 24 wins and three losses (22-3 vs. Division I opponents), just two wins shy of the school record of 26 wins set by the 1983 team that went 26-9.

She finished her career with an overall record of 66-18 in singles play for a .785 winning percentage and was 35-7 all time in Southland Conference matches for a .833 winning percentage.

District VI is comprised of university's from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The sports information directors from each university vote on the team.