Gaucho Netter Set to Play in NCAAs

UCSB junior netter and No. 1 singles player Carlos Palencia will square off against UNLV’s Thomas Schneiter in the first round of the 2002 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championships today.

Palencia, the No. 58 player in the country, will play at the Texas A&M Tennis Center in College Station, Texas at 1:30 p.m. opposite No. 62 Schneiter. Palencia, originally chosen for an alternate position from the West Region despite his strong individual rank, was placed into the 64-player singles draw.

The Big West Player of the Year is currently 22-7 overall and did not lose a single match against other conference netters. Only 11 other Gauchos have enjoyed qualifying for the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship. Santa Barbara has enjoyed sending players to the Nationals in seven of the last eight seasons and 11 in the past 14 years.

Georgia’s Matias Boeker is the defending singles champion.

Santa Barbara Inks Infielder

The UCSB softball program signed its first recruit for the 2003 season. UCSB Head Coach and Big West Co-Coach of the Year Kristy Schroeder announced the Gauchos have signed Kimberly Iverson of Arroyo Grande High to a National Letter of Intent.

Iverson, a middle infielder, will help Santa Barbara replace First Team All-Big West and senior shortstop Julia Tamai, and senior second baseman Kim Sawyer. Iverson, a first team all-league every year in high school, was an All-San Luis County and all-area player during her sophomore and junior campaigns.

Iverson also played basketball and volleyball at Arroyo Grande. Her signing marks the end of the early signings for the 2003 UCSB softball season.

-Nexus Staff Report