Women's Tennis Signs World-Ranked Junior

Lincoln - The University of Nebraska women's tennis program signed Maria Laura Fernandez, the No. 2 ranked singles player and the No. 1 doubles player in Mexico, to a National Letter of Intent this week.

In four national tournaments last year, Fernandez, a Puebla, Puebla, Mexico, native, won two and finished second in the remaining two, and won all of the doubles titles in those tournaments. In addition to her national success, Fernandez is ranked 114th in the ITF Junior World Rankings. Head Coach Scott Jacobson said Fernandez's experience in international play is a major strength. She has played in the Orange Bowl, one of the premier international junior tennis tournaments for three consecutive years and also advanced to the third round of the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships this past year.

In addition to Fernandez, Jacobson landed a standout from the state of California, Stacey Tomkiewicz. The Ojai, Calif., native, is projected to finish in the top 15 of the Southern California 18-and-under rankings. Jacobson feels that Tomkiewicz will be able to make an immediate impact in the NU doubles lineup next year.

With all of Nebraska's 1999 starters expected to return, along with freshman Riva Wig, who has missed this entire spring season because of a knee injury, Jacobson said NU will have one of the most talented and deepest teams during his tenure.