Feb. 26, 2000

SEATTLE - The WSU women's tennis team fell to the hands of their host, No. 23 University of Washington, 6-3 in a dual at the Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle Friday.

Despite the loss, WSU head coach, Cari Groce, said she was very proud of the team's performance.

"Washington is a tough team," Groce said. "Even though we lost, we are pleased with the way we competed. And with the position we've been in, with all the injuries, to be able to go out and play that hard says a heck of a lot."

Senior Melissa Pine (Newfoundland, Canada) stepped up, as the team's captain, and defeated Zuzana Stunova, the No. 54th-ranked singles player in the nation (6-3, 6-3).

"Melissa played awesome!" Groce said. "She beat Stunova, who is ranked nationally, and I hope that will continue throughout the season and into the NCAA Tournament. She really deserves it."

After recently injuring her ankle, Junior transfer Ana Maria Moura (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) came through with a win for WSU, as she defeated Ilona Kordonskaya in three sets (6-3, 3-6, 6-3) at the No. 3 singles position.

Sophomore Sarah Burrows (Lakewood, Colo.) and Senior Patrycia Gajdzik (Szczecin, Poland) paired up to defeat Ilona Kordonskaya and Zuzana Stunova (8-5) at the No. 2 doubles position, giving WSU it's only doubles victory.

The Cougars are going to try to put the loss behind them and concentrate on the next two matches against the University of the Pacific tomorrow and No. 25 Fresno State Sunday.

"We are looking to pick up a couple of wins," Groce said. "If we can play the way we did today, I'll be very pleased."

Washington 6 WSU 3
Nordstrom Tennis Center
Seattle, WA

Singles
No. 1 Kristina Kraszewski (UW) def. Patrycja Gajdzik (WSU), 6-2, 6-3.
No. 2 Melissa Pine (WSU) def. Zuzana Stunova (UW), 6-3, 6-3.
No. 3 Ana Maria Moura (WSU) def. Ilona Kordonskaya (UW), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
No. 4 Darija Klaic (UW) def. Tamara Filipovic (WSU), 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 Zeta Wagner (UW) def. Kathleen Pienaar (WSU), 6-1, 6-1.
No. 6 Colleen Gray (UW) def. Moniek Van De Ven (WSU), 6-1, 6-4.

Doubles
No. 1 Kraszewski/Klaic (UW) def. Pine/Filipovic (WSU), 8-2.
No. 2 Burrows / Gajdzik (WSU) def. Kordonskaya/Stunova (UW), 8-5.
No. 3 Gray/Wu (UW) def. Moura/Pienaar (WSU), 8-2.