April 25, 2002

Ojai, Calif.--- The Washington State women's tennis team opened the Pac-10 Individual Championships with some impressive victories, but the second round proved to be much harder for the Cougars.

Seven of the eight members on the Cougar tennis team advanced with victories in the opening round of 32, but only freshman Nora Gaal won second her match to advance to Friday's quarterfinals. Gaal will play USC's Tiffany Brymer Friday at 8 a.m.

Four Cougars (Erica Perkins, Lorena Arias, Stacy McKenna and Orsolya Sallai) were playing in the elite Pac-10 singles tournament. Four more Cougars (Zorana Roganovic, Nora Gaal, Zsofi Fodor and Chris Martinez) were placed in the Pac-10 Invitational. All eight Cougars will play in Friday's doubles bracket starting at 11 a.m.

Arias, a sophomore, started things off by upsetting Arizona's Maja Mlakar 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2. Mlakar is ranked 18th in the nation. Arias advanced to play Oregon's Daria Panova in the round of 16, and Panova beat Arias 6-2, 6-2.

Senior Erica Perkins cruised past UCLA's Mariko Fritz-Krockow 7-6, 6-2 in the opening round. Perkins, ranked 47th nationally, lost to Cal's No. 39 Raquel Kops-Jones 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.

McKenna, a sophomore ranked No. 95, won her opening match against Arizona' No. 72 Debbie Larocque 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. McKenna had to play Stanford's No. 12 Gabriela Lastra in the second round and lost 6-1, 6-2.

"It's the toughest conference tournament in the country," said WSU Coach Cari Groce. "This tournament gives players opportunities to upset nationally ranked players and qualify for the NCAA singles and doubles tournament."

"We may be 2-6 in conference play, but we're in the top 30 in the country," Groce added. "That's how strong the Pac-10 is."

As a team, Washington State finished the season with an 11-10 record (2-6 in the Pac-10) and defeated seven nationally ranked teams this season. The team will wait until Thursday's NCAA selection show to learn if it will play in the NCAA Team Championships starting May 10th.

The Pac-10 Individual Championships allow players to qualify for the NCAA Individual Championships May 26th.

Elite Pac-10 Singles (Round of 32)
Lorena Arias (WSU) def. (18) Maja Mlakar (Ariz), 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2
(14 )Lauren Barnikow (Stan) def. Orsolya Sallai (WSU), 6-1, 6-0
(47) Erica Perkins (WSU) def. Mariko Fritz-Krockow (UCLA), 7-6, 6-2
(95) Stacy McKenna (WSU) def. (72) Debbie Larocque (Ariz), 6-1, 2-6, 6-4

Elite Pac-10 Singles (Round of 16)
Daria Panova (Ore) def. Lorena Arias (WSU), 6-2, 6-2
(39)R. Kops-Jones (Cal) def. (47) Erica Perkins (WSU), 6-3, 6-3
(12) Gabriela Lastra (Stan) def. (95) Stacy McKenna (WSU), 6-1, 6-2

Pac-10 Invite (Round of 32)
Chris Martinez (WSU) def. Marie-Pier Pouliot (Ariz), 6-2, 6-2
Zorana Roganovic (WSU) def. Bernaditte Bayani (USC), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Nora Gaal (WSU) advanced with a BYE
Melissa Esmero (USC) def. Zsofi Fodor (WSU), 6-3, 6-2

Pac-10 Invite (Round of 16)
Nicole Havlicek (Cal) def. Chris Martinez (WSU), 6-3, 6-4
Andrea Coulter (Wash) def. Zorana Roganovic (WSU), 6-4, 6-1
Nora Gaal (WSU) def. Lizzy Bennett (Stan), 6-1, 6-3