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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1981)
Page 8 THE BATTALION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1981 Sports Four-time Colombian champion Fernandez leads Aggie tennis team By RICK STOLLE Battalion Staff In two years, Liliana Fernandez has gone from a small, scared Col ombian tennis player who had been ready to quit after one week of prac tice to the number one spot on the women’s tennis team at Texas A&M University. Fernandez, a sophomore finance major, is currently listed as number one despite an attack of bursitis in her shoulder and back that left her out of the final two matches of the fall season. She is recovering nicely with the help of the Texas A&M training room and medicine. Fernandez said she is taking three pills plus aspirin each day to combat the stiffness and sore ness and so far, it is working. The bursitis does not bother her at all on warm days, she said. And even on cold ones, she is only a little stiff and sore. “I would take a hundred pills a day as long as I didn’t have to get a shot,” she said. “I don’t like needles or doc tors and the two always seem to go together.” Women’s coach Jan Cannon said the bursitis attack may have actually been a blessing in disguise. It gave the coaches a chance to correct her serve, which had been fundamental ly bad. Cannon said she hated to change the serve before the bursitis attack because even though it was bad, it was working. But, afterwards, they were forced to change it. “The toss on my serve was the big part of the problem,” Fernandez said. “But I haven’t had any trouble since I changed it.” She had been tossing the ball and hitting it behind her causing her to stretch and reach behind for each serve. Now, with the new toss, she hits the ball in front, Fernandez said. In Cali, Colombia, (population approximately one million) Fernan dez said she had only practiced on Fridays and Saturdays. Before a big tournament, however, she would practice three of four straight days to get ready. “There was just no competition,” she said. “We have four or five good tennis clubs in Colombia but to play, you had to belong.” She said she usually practiced for about an hour, seriously, with the tennis pro, and would then go and talk to her friends. Sometimes they would take off to get some ice cream or just go home. “There was just nobody good to practice with,” she said. Besides, Fernandez added, soccer is more popular in Colombia. The four-time Colombian national Liliana Fernandez champion said there were four athletes who would always meet in the .finals of every national tourn- ment. Sometimes she won, some times not. Fernandez won the 14-and-under division once and came in second another time. In the 14-to-16-year- old division, she won the champion ship twice and then twice more for the 18-and-under division. The Cali native said she goes home in the summer and at Christmas to see all her relatives. She said she plays in the summer tournaments fc)S\SEMENT i t 6x7 62 rudder (orun msc hox iffice ’•'February 14 *8:30 p.m.-l:00 a.m. *FormaI *$8.00/couple SOPHOMORE BALL Music by: Dennis Ivey and the Waymen Tickets M.S.C. Tickets Commons Tickets Rudder Box Office THE COWBOY The Most Ftm You Can Have Tonight 775-0494 2820 Pinfeather Bryan every year to stay in shape. Her first week at Texas A&M last year, she said she thought she was going to collapse. The humidity, heat, hard work and running after practice every day nearly made her quit. “It doesn’t bother me as much now,” she said, “except for the run ning. I still don’t like to run.” “We didn't know what we were going to do with her,” said head coach David Kent. “We had a big, Latin baby on our hands and we were ready to let her head back to South America. “But now I’m certainly glad she persevered through it all.” Cannon agreed. “She absolutely will not give up,” she said. She said Fernandez’s perseverance is her best quality. The coaches have a great deal of confidence in Fernandez. They said she has great determination, some of the best ground strokes around and is a team player that fits into their plans for the future. Cannon said Fernandez will play number one until someone on the team beats her out. “Liliana has a great, low shot,” said Cannon. “Her opponents have to hit up at her and she just puts them away from the net.” Cannon said she had been worried the layoff Fernandez got after her bout with bursitis had hurt her tim ing. But her timing is coming back, said Cannon, and she is also hitting the ball harder than ever. Fernandez said she considers her self one of the top four players on the women’s team. Any of the four could win the top spot on any given week, she said. “Amy (CIoss), Maylen (Hooten), Pam (Hill) and myself are the top four,” she said. “But, with the talent the team has, anyone with a very good week could take the top spot. ” Fernandez said the goals for the team will be tough but she believes they can be reached. “We want to get into the women’s top 20,” she said, “and improve our play as a team.” She said she knows everyone will improve, they have been working too hard not to. The desire to be the best was evi dent following the workout Tuesday. Fernandez was one of the last to get done with practice and do her laps. She asked coach Cannon if the running would really help her to be come good and if it was worth it. Cannon looked at Fernandez for a second and then said, “Yes, Liliana, but I don’t want you to be good at the end of the year, I want you to be great.” Sambito signs 5-year pact United Press International HOUSTON — Houston Astros re- Hebrew Classes Starting Hillel Jewish Student Center 696-7313 for more information lief pitcher Joe Sambito Thursday signed a five-year, $3 million con tract one day before an arbitration hearing was scheduled to decide the terms of a pact. The signing placed all the Astros regulars under contract for 1981. Nine players on the 40-man roster remain unsigned, but none had the veteran status to seek arbitration. INDOOR ARCHERY LEAGUE sponsored by the Brazos Bowmen Archery Club PLACE: Fannin School Gym, 501 S. Baker, Bryan DATE: January 30 — Friday nites, til — March 13 TIME: 7:00 p.m. 18 yard targets 12 rounds, 5 arrows each ENTRY FEE: $8.00 - league; $1.50 per nite More information call Tom - 696-0285 or Ed - 693-7778 ALL ENTRANTS WELCOME — YOU NEED NOT BE A MEMBER * \ I i i i \ 1 1 1 l RESTAURANT & BAR 319 University 846-1861 POOR MAN’S SPECIAL 1.95 CHICKEN FRIED STEAK Fries & Salad Soup... Salad n’ Sandwich 2.25 Sandwich, Fries or Chips w/Soft drink 3.25 “THE BREAD LINE” 1.00 A hearty bowl of soup and chunk of hot bread with butter n’ cheese. I I LIVE ENTERTAINMENT t Thur. Frl. Sat. Famous Belly Dancers & Belly Dancers & Amos 5 Greek Quisine 6 Greek Quisine? Glenn . Lyle Lyle Berridge 12 Lovett 13 Lovett 14' Famous Jazz by Bruce Amos 19 Scrapple 20 McEiheny 21 Bruce Bruce Bruce McEiheny 26 McEiheny 27 McEiheny 28 ;k Jock Shorts Men’s track The men’s track team will be in Oklahoma City Saturday for ikj Oklahoma Indoor Classic. Last week, several members of the Aggie team participated in ilit| Dallas Times-Herald Invitational in Dallas’ Reunion Arena. In I meet, Randy Hall won the pole vault with fewer misses, leaping li| feet. Several personal and season bests were recorded at the meet also | Jimmy Howard jumped a career-high 7-4'A, and Leslie Kerr recordedj a season best 47.99 in the 440-yard dash. Mike Glaspie, competing in the 60-yard high hurdles, ranateaal season high 7.31 race. In the mile relay, the foursome of Leslieanil Larry Kerr, Floyd Furlow and Bart Daniel recorded a 3:15.68 race j also a season best. Freshman Rod Richardson equalled his season best in the60-yaiil| dash at 6.18. Hall and Howard will be in New York’s Madison Square Gardal tonight for the prestigious Milrose Games, but will join the Aggiet] Saturday in Oklahoma for the Indoor Classic. Women’s basketball The Aggie Ladies won two and lost two to finish seventh in the fit), SWC women’s basketball tournament in Houston last week and»! play Texas Tech at G. Rollie White Saturday. Tipoff of that game comes at 12:15 p.m., as a prelim to the Aggi® Tech TV game at 2:40. The women opened tournament play with a 69-59 win over TCI' with Kelley Sullivan leading the scoring with 22 points. Next theyWj to Texas Tech, 62-51, as Sheryl Clark netted 10 for high honors. Hit Ladies then fell to Arkansas, 80-62, witli Cathy Fuller scoring 19, anil in the seventh place game Texas A&M beat Rice 69-63, as duRaeCl scored 20. Clark had 12 steals during the four games. The women now have a 6-17 season record. Men’s basketball The Aggies, slowly recovering from a year-long drought, taketothe G. Rollie White court again Saturday at 2:40 p.m. to take on the Tern Tech Red Raiders, 5-5. The game will be regionally televised. At halftime of that game, candidates competing in the Miss Tern A&M Beauty Pageant will be introduced to the Aggie crowd. Te in Be Swimming The Texas A&M men’s and women’s swimming teams willbeii Lubbock this weekend to compete in a dual match against Texas Teck Last Saturday, the women’s team drowned Southwest Texas Stateii San Marcos, 99-49, recording 12 first places; 10 in individual evenli and two in relays. Tracy Johnston won the 50-yard backstoke, 100-yait freestyle and the 50-yard butterfly to lead the Aggie women. Shealsu joined Shelley Carbone, Cathy Cagen and Philis Burns to win till 400-yard medh ley. L0 Mi sa iendi :hat V Rifle team The Aggie rifle team, after winning the Southwest Invitational inE :okill Paso last weekend, will travel to Fort Worth Saturday for a competitios ;mbe involving TCU, Texas A&M and UT-Arlington. The Aggies totaled 2,201 points out of a possible 2,400 to wind* Southwest Invitational meet. :he b; Sm ion o lad r allinj nNe’ Men’s and women’s tennis The men’s team will take on West Texas State at the Omar Sml Tennis Center today at 1:30 p.m. On Saturday, the womei^will see their first action of the spring wte lis ac Southwest Texas State rolls into town at 1:30 p.m. The men will ben mind* action once again, playing East Texas State. McHan joins Saints: is 8th coach signed United Press International NEW ORLEANS — Lamar McHan, the quarterbacks and re ceivers coach for the New Orleans Saints on coach Dick Nolan’s staff, will be the receivers coach under Bum Phillips. McHan, hired Wednesday, is the eighth coach signed by Phillips. A defensive secondary coach remains to be announced, a Saints spokesman said. McHan’s first coaching stinl the Saints was on John North’s in 1974. He also was offensive!! j °ole dinator at Northern Arizona aii(lp nen t University of Texas-Arlington. The Lake Village, Ark., native' an all-America quarterback at University of Arkansas and Ne ln< j d draft choice of the Chicago 0 Nli< dinals. He also played with the Cards and the Green Bay Packers A w med millio hied I on. “Tl know. latior ess it facts. it ii aid I We nons. “W nent -oole >re ct eolve: Sun Theatres 333 University 846-9 The only movie in town Double-Feature Every Week i a hsun 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri.-Sat. No one under 18 BOOK STORE & 25c PEEP SHOWS DIETING? Even though we do not prescribe diets, we make it possible for many to enjoy a nutritious meal while they follow their doctors orders. You will be delighted with the wide selection of low calorie, sugar free and fat free foods in the Souper Salad Area, Sbisa Dining Center Basement. OPEN Monday through Friday 10:45 AM-1:45 PM QUALITY FIRST