Feb. 4, 2000

Springfield, Mo.-- - Five members of the University of Memphis women's tennis team won their first round matches at the Southwest Missouri Hardee's Women's Tennis Invitational, Friday.

In the A Singles First Round, junior Christina Ladyman defeated Montana State's Mariska Steenkamp, 6-3, 6-3, while freshman Sabrina Lindemann defeated Julieta Lillo, her first round opponent from Arkansas-Little Rock, 6-3, 6-0.

Two Lady Tigers also advanced in the B Singles bracket. Junior Betsy Card downed Montana State's Rachel Drummond, 6-0, 6-2, while teammate Angie Wilkinson defeated Oklahoma Christian's Laura Segrera, 6-0, 6-4.

The U of M went 1-1 in the C Singles. Junior Laura Hughes fell to Oklahoma City University's Sandra Nilsson, 6-0, 6-2, while freshman Sumitra Rao, playing in her second match as a Lady Tiger, defeated Oklahoma Christian's Magdalena Janik, 6-0, 6-2.

Singles play begins Saturday at 9 a.m., with the singles quarterfinals beginning after the consolation bracket matches are determined.

The singles and doubles finals will be held Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m.

Memphis is 0-1 in team match play, and will resume team competition February 11 against Louisiana-Monroe at 2:30 p.m.