March 31, 2000

PULLMAN, Wash. - The WSU women's tennis team defeated No. 43 Oregon 5-4 in a dual hosted by the Cougars Friday at the Stadium Way Tennis Center.

The match came down to a tiebreaker at No.3 doubles. WSU freshman Kathleen Pienaar (Bellville, South Africa) teamed up with junior Moniek van de Ven (Stellenbosch, South Africa) to defeat Oregon's Adeline Arnaud and Valerie Young 9-8 to secure the win for WSU. It was van de Ven's first doubles match of the season.

"It was close, and I started to put pressure on myself," van de Ven said. "I felt good, I thought we were going to make it. I enjoy playing, so I was just trying to focus on that and enjoy it. I think today we showed what we can do, and I am confident about tomorrow."

Senior Melissa Pine (Newfoundland, Canada), junior Tamara Filipovic (Belegrade Yugoslavia), and Pienaar each captured singles matches.

Filipovic, now 19-7 overall, picked up her eighth win in her last nine singles matches by defeating Oregon's Arnaud 6-1, 6-4.

"I felt great," Filipovic said. "I was ready to go before the match and I was really confident. I knew I was going to win. We proved that we are a good team today by beating Oregon. Tomorrow we play Portland, and I am really confident in our team. I think if we go out there and play our game, we'll be fine.

"I am very very happy," WSU head coach Cari Groce said. "I think that will be a crucial win for us with regards to the NCAA tournament. We have some extremely tough matches ahead of us, but we have to go after it. Oregon fought hard, and they are a good team, but you have to give total credit to these players."

WSU returns to action tomorrow as it hosts the University of Portland at the Stadium Way Tennis Center at noon.

#63 Washington State 5 #43 Oregon 4
Stadium Way Tennis Center
Pullman, WA

Singles
1. Alina Wygonowska (UO) def. Patrycja Gadjzik (WSU) 6-4,6-3
2. Melissa Pine (WSU) def. Monica Gieczys (UO) 6-3,6-1
3. Janice Nyland (UO) def. Ana Maria Moura (WSU) 6-4,3-6,7-5
4. Tamara Filipovic (WSU) def. Adeline Arnaud (UO) 6-1,6-4
5. Jeanette Mattsson (UO) def. Moniek van de Ven (WSU) 6-2,3-6,7-5
6. Kathleen Pienaar (WSU) def. Valerie Young (UO) 6-0,6-4

Doubles
1. Pine/Filipovic (WSU) def. Gieczys/Nyland (UO) 8-2
2. Mattson/Wygonowska (UO) def.Gadjzik/Moura (WSU) 8-6
3. Pienaar/van de Ven (WSU) vs. Arnaud/Young (UO) 9-8