Air Force Academy

Oct. 25, 2002

Air Force junior Laura Nigro and freshman Katherine Bushey each won her first round singles match Thursday at the Omni Hotels Women's Tennis Central Region Championships being held at the University of Tulsa.

Nigro pulled out a tough three-setter against qualifier Andrea Cooper of Kansas State, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, while Bushey became the first Air Force freshman to win a match in the main draw at the region tournament by defeating Vicki Zielinski of St. Louis University, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. Nigro moves on to play Kate Vasylyva of Oklahoma State on Friday, while Bushey faces Tjasa Suvak of New Mexico.

Nigro and Bushey combined to win their first doubles match of the championships, beating Kim Lorenz and Christine Skoda of Kansas, 8-3. They will play Anda Perianu and Heather Saluri of Oklahoma on Friday. Senior Heather Shelby and junior Gina Black were also triumphant in their first round doubles match, just getting by Vasylyva and Erin Pauchnik of Oklahoma State, 9-8. They will play Alssia Avling and Renata Stoop of Boise State on Friday.

The duo of senior Kelli O'Bryant and sophomore Miclynn Crail was eliminated from the tournament by Zoe Buhagiar and Timberly Greenly of Tulsa, 8-3.

Omni Hotels Women's Tennis Central Region Championships
Air Force Results - October 24, 2002

Singles - Round of 64
Katherine Bushey (Air Force) def. Vicki Zeilinski (Saint Louis), 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
Laura Nigro (Air Force) def. Andrea Cooper (Kansas State), 4-6, 7-6, 6-4

Doubles - Round of 64
Katherine Bushey/Laura Nigro (Air Force) def. Kim Lorenz/Christine Skoda (Kansas), 8-3
Gina Black/Heather Shelby (Air Force) def. Erin Pauchnick/Kate Vasylyva (Oklahoma State), 9-8
Zoe Buhagiar/Timberly Greenly (Tulsa) def. Miclynn Crail/Kelli O'Bryant (Air Force), 8-3