March 25, 2004

PULLMAN, Wash. - The No. 12 California Bears women's tennis team took all but one match in their 6-1 defeat of No. 49 Washington State Friday, in the home opener and second Pac-10 match for the Cougars.

Cougar tandem Orsolya Sallai and Chris Martinez put down their opponents Jieun Jacobs and Sasha Podkolzina, 9-8, in the No. 1 doubles slot. In No. 2 doubles, power pair and 45th-ranked Lorena Arias and Zsofia Fodor lost to No. 42 Nicole Havlicek and Jody Scheldt, 9-7. Cougars Nora Gaal and Zorana Roganovic were not able to find success against Catherine Lynch and Monica Wiesner as the visitors won, 8-1.

In singles action, Arias moved to the No. 1 position and faced Cal's Catherine Lynch. Lynch handed Arias her ninth loss on the season by a score of 6-0, 6-2. Sallai fell in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, to her opponent Jieun Jacobs, in No. 2 singles.

Gaal knocked off No. 26 Sasha Podkolzina in the No. 3 singles slot, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Gaal and Podkolzina split the first two sets and were the last match to finish. Gaal battled from being down 3-4, after enjoying a 2-0 lead, to post three straight games and take the match. The Szekesfehervar, Hungary native, now has 16 wins on the season which places her two wins shy of her win total last season.

"I am so impressed with Nora's desire, heart and fight," Washington State Head Coach Lisa Hart said. "She's a great leader and role model for everyone on our team to follow."

Playing in the No. 4 singles position Martinez, was defeated in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, by Cal's Nicole Havlicek. WSU freshman Amy Toth played ranked competition for the first time this season in No. 5 singles, falling in three sets to No. 83 Jody Scheldt, 6-0, 6-7, 11-9. Fodor rounded out the six Cougar singles, losing to Wiesner, 6-4, 7-6.

The Cougars, now 1-1 in Pac-10 play, will face No. 1 Stanford, Saturday, at the Stadium Way Tennis Center at Pullman, weather permitting.

WSU RESULTS
Doubles
Martinez/Sallai (WSU) def. Jacobs/Podkolzina, 9-8
Havlicek/Scheldt def. Arias/Fodor (WSU), 9-7
Lynch/Wiesner def. Gaal/Roganovic (WSU), 8-1


Singles
Catherine Lynch def. Lorena Arias (WSU), 6-0, 6-2
Jieun Jacobs def. Orsolya Sallai (WSU), 6-2, 6-1
Nora Gaal (WSU) def. Sasha Podkolzina, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Nicole Havlicek def. Chris Martinez (WSU), 6-3, 6-3
Jody Scheldt def. Amy Toth (WSU), 6-0, 6-7, 11-9
Monica Wiesner def. Zsofia Fodor (WSU), 6-4, 7-6