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EDISON, New Jersey – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs women's tennis team (6-11) faces off against the host New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders (15-6), who won the last two Great West Conference Championships, for the National Invitation Tennis Tournament Championship on Sunday at 9 a.m. at Thomas Edison Park.
 
This is the final match of the season for both teams and the final match in the career of Broncs senior Dana Nazarova.
 
The Broncs
Since starting the season 0-8, the Broncs have made a major turnaround, going 6-3 over the last nine. Part of the reason is that a young team that features six freshmen, one junior and one senior started to show just how good they can be. Another reason is some mid-season changes to the singles lineup.

After Nazarova started the season 0-7 at No. 1, she was moved to No. 2, where she is 5-4. Didi Fatchikova started the season 0-4 at No. 2, but is now 5-4 at No. 1. Wanda Beguelin has found success at No. 3, going 6-5, after going 1-4 at No. 4, while Manon Lavrijssen is 5-3 at No. 4 after going 0-8 at No. 2 and No. 3 (she is now 1-8 at those positions after a win at No. 2 on Saturday). Reegan Greenwood is 1-0 at No. 3, 4-4 at No. 5 and 2-4 at No. 6. Roma alum Julia Perez, who has seen all of her playing time in these last nine matches, is 4-3, including 1-0 at No. 4, 2-0 at No. 5 and 1-3 at No. 6. The Broncs are 5-2 when Perez plays.
 
Scouting the Highlanders
The Highlanders are 9-1 in New Jersey this season, including wins in their last four home matches, although Thomas Edison Park isn't their regular home. The Highlanders swept through Northern Kentucky and Chicago State on day one of the tournament, winning both matches 7-0. The Highlanders are on a five-match winning streak.
 
The Highlanders are 36-17  (.679) in doubles this season, with winning record at each court. Their most successful duos have been Monika Graff and Hannelore MacDonald (8-2) and Ksenia Kuzmenko and Jana Luste (8-5).
 
The Highlanders are 81-37 (.686) in singles, with a winning record at every court, including 14 wins at every position except No. 2, where they are 11-8. Martina Tripcovici has the most wins at 13-5 across five different spots. Kuzmenko has seen the majority of the action at No. 1, going 12-5.
 
The Series
The Broncs beat the Highlanders 4-1 in their only previous meeting, on April 17, 2009 at the Orville Cox Tennis Center during day one of the National Independent Tournament.
 
Great West Conference Dominance
The Broncs and Highlanders accounted for all three Great West Conference Championships, with the Broncs winning in 2010 and the Highlanders winning in 2011 and 2012.
 
Last Time Out
The Broncs won both matches during the first day of the tournament, beating Northern Kentucky 7-0 and Chicago State 6-1.
 
Burobina Returns
Anastasia Burobina returned to the lineup against Eastern Washington on March 30, winning in a pro match, 8-4 at No. 6 singles and falling 3-8. It was her first action since February 10 and her first singles action since February 7.
 
That's a Winner
The Broncs got their first win of the season in dominating fashion, taking 76 of 78 games in a 7-0 drubbing over the University of the Southwest on March 1. The Broncs had four double bagels in singles and won by default at No. 6 singles as well as No. 3 doubles.
 
Home Sweet Home
The Broncs went 3-3 at home this season and were 1-1 at home last season, but are 27-9 (.750) over the last eight seasons.
 
You Can Put it on the Board
The Broncs picked up their first match points of the season at UTSA on Feb. 3, as Wanda Beguelin defeated Alena Shichkova 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 and Anastasia Burobina (UTPA) beat Kavya Menon (UTSA) 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4.
 
Ranked Win
The Broncs picked up their first win of the season in doubles against No. 36 Arkansas on January 19, as the No. 2 duo of Burobina and Beguelin defeated Flavia Araujo and Kimberly - Ann Surin 8-5.
 
When in Roma…
The Broncs have one local student-athlete in Roma-native and freshman Julia Perez, who picked up her first dual singles and doubles wins against the University of the Southwest on March 1.
 
In singles, Perez is 1-0 at No. 5 and 1-3 at No. 6.
 
During her four years at Roma High School, Perez went 72-0 and never lost a district match. She was District 32-4A MVP, First Team All-Valley and First Team All-District in Doubles all four years. She was also the 2009 and 2011 singles district champion, as well as the 2012 doubles district champion. The Gladiators won the district title every year she was there and were ranked No. 12 in the state in 2011. Perez also led the Gladiators on a 52-match winning streak in district play.
 
In addition to her stellar tennis play, Perez was a regional qualifier in swimming all four years, led the golf team to their first ever regional tournament, led the basketball team to the 2012 playoffs, and earned honorable mention in golf in 2011 and 2012 in basketball in 2011.
 
Globetrotters
The Broncs currently have eight student-athletes on the roster representing eight different countries, including Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, The Netherlands, Russia and the United States.