Oct. 21, 2000

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech women's tennis squad began play in the University of Houston Fall Classic on Friday, picking up five wins in singles and doubles in the first day of competition.

Leading the way for the Red Raiders was Alenka Ovin and Barbara Schraml, who both advanced in Flight #1 singles. Ovin defeated Chrissie Terrill of SMU, 6-3, 6-4, advancing to play Jocelyn Hogan of Southwest Texas State on Saturday morning.

Schraml won 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) over UTEP's Jana Perkova. Schraml will also play Saturday morning against Jennifer DeSpain of Tulsa.

Kendall Brooks dropped a 6-2, 6-4 decision to Phyllis Wilunda of UT-San Antonio in Flight #2 singles. She will play against Kailey Meisinger of Houston in the second round of play.

In Flight #3 singles, Beverly Dawson advanced with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over SMU's Sara Love Swaney. Dawson won 12 of the final 15 games of the match to overcome the one-set deficit. She will play against Eva Soderkvist of UT-San Antonio in the second round.

Sonnie Orellana defeated Lisa Sternberg of Southwest Texas State, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0, advancing to play Kendall Exelby of UTEP in Flight #4 singles.

Stephanie Mueller won 7-5, 6-2 over Emily Foster of UT-San Antonio in Flight #5 singles. Mueller faces Dione Gonzalez of UTEP in the second round. Teammate Dana Giles lost 6-3, 6-2 to Gonzalez, and Noel Ruiz suffered a 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Sarah Flood of Houston.

In Flight #1 doubles action, Brooks and Dawson won twice on Friday, winning 8-3 over a tandem from UTEP, then coming back to defeat a pair from UT-San Antonio, 8-6. Ovin and Schraml suffered an 8-5 loss to a team from Tulsa.

Giles and Mueller also won a pair of matches in Flight #2 doubles action, winning 8-6 over a squad from UTEP, then defeating a tandem from UT-San Antonio, 9-7.

Orellano and Ruiz also advanced in doubles play, taking an 8-4 decision over a team from UTEP.

Play continues for all players in the tournament Saturday morning, with Flight champions being crowned later in the day.