Sept. 22, 2000

St. Louis, Mo.-- - The University of Memphis women's tennis team, which is currently ranked 14th in its region, opened its 2000-2001 season at the Saint Louis Invitational, Friday.

Three singles players remain in the hunt for the championship, while one doubles team is still in the hunt.

In the No. 1 and No. 2 singles bracket, sophomore Sabrina Lindemann, a third-team all-conference player last year, opened with a 6-1, 6-2, win over Divya Baker from Creighton University. Another all-conference performer from last year, senior Christina Ladyman, also won her opening match, downing Creighton's Megan Kowal, 6-2, 6-0. Both will play in the quarterfinals, Saturday.

In the No. 3 and No. 4 singles bracket draw, senior Betsy Card fell to Iowa's Edna Vazques, 7-5, 3-6, 10-8. Card recovered to down Southern Illinois-Carbondale's Rachel Moroles and will play in the semifinals of the consolation draw, Saturday.

In the lower half of the same bracket, junior Annika Westburg defeated Northern Iowa's Fleur Muysson, 7-6, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals. Next up for Westburg is Iowa's Sharla Whitaker.

In the No. 5 and No. 6 singles bracket, freshman Rebecca Garner opened her Lady Tiger career with a loss to SIU-Carbondale's Sarah Krismanits. Garner went into her next match on a tear, winning the opening match 6-0 before Murray State's Georgina Katona won the second set, 6-0. The ensuing game three was a battle, with Katona edging Garner, 10-8.

On the bottom half of the same draw, junior Laura Hughes downed her first opponent, 6-3, 6-2, before falling to Missouri's Andrea Friedman, 0-6, 1-6.

One of the Tigers' three doubles teams competing in the tournament remains in the hunt for a title. The duo of Ladyman and Lindemann won their opening match over Heshelman/Alonte from Murray State, 8-5. The Lady Tiger team then downed the duet of Vazquez/Leese from Iowa, 8-1, to advance to the quarterfinals.

The tournament continues Saturday and Sunday. The Lady Tigers will compete in the Southern Illinois - Carbondale Invitational, Sept. 29-30.