
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 16, 1995                   TAG: 9505160103
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

W&L'S BAKER, GARCIA WIN DIV. III DOUBLES TITLE

Marilyn Baker and Natalia Garcia gave the Washington and Lee women's athletic program its first NCAA championship, winning the Division III tennis doubles title Monday at Sweet Briar College.

Baker and Garcia, ranked third coming into the tournament, defeated second-ranked Alice Han and Tracy Erickson of Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in the afternoon to finish the season with a 29-3 record. The Generals' duo reached the final with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory over top-seeded Becky Mallory and Julie Greenwood of Williams (Mass.) in a morning match.

Baker, a senior, was the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Division III player of the year. She went 31-5 in singles play while advancing to the NCAA quarterfinal round.

Garcia, the ITA's South Region Rookie of the Year, compiled a 26-4 record as a freshman this season in singles play while advancing to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III championships.

W&L finished third in the team competition during the weekend, compiling a 21-2 record with the only losses coming to NCAA champion Kenyon (Ohio).

by CNB