Oct. 23, 2008

FORT WORTH, Texas - The Lamar University women's tennis team opens play at the 2008 Wilson/ITA Southwest Regional Championships today at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center, hosted by TCU.

The Lady Cardinals are led by sophomore Mariaryeni Gutierrez who is ranked 125th in the NCAA. She is the first LU women's tennis player to earn a top 125 ranking under the direction of head coach David Wong.

Ranked as the No. 13 player in the tournament, she will play her first match of the on Friday afternoon when she takes on Rebekka Hanle of Rice University at 2:30.

Senior Maria Gutierrez is the No.1 ranked player in the qualifying draw, in which eight players will advance to the main draw with two wins. She began play on Thursday morning against Claire Clark.

Also participating in singles play at the Southwest Regional for Lamar is junior Manami Kuroda and freshman Constanza Gonzalez. Kuroda opened play against Lynley Wasson of the University of Houston and Gonzalez began with No. 8 seeded Kathrin Lange of Northwestern State.

In doubles play the Gutierrez sisters hold the No. 13 seed and will begin play today at 3:30 p.m. when they take on the tandem of Alix Young and Neila Starratt of the University of Houston.