May 16, 1998

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Midwest Regional competed at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois today top-seeded and No. 14 ranked UCLA defeated No. 50 ranked Marquette University by a score of 5-2. With the victory UCLA advances to tomorrow's second round match vs. the University of Indiana who posted a 5-3 victory over Purdue in its first round match this morning. UCLA improved its record to 15-10 overall, while Marquette was eliminated from the NCAA Championship Regional with a final record of 16-8 overall.

Making her dual-match debut for UCLA in today's match was Amanda Basica who suffered a shoulder injury in December and has spent the entire dual-match season recovering. Basica competed in the No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles positions and won both matches. Also posting wins for the Bruins were Cristina Popescu at No. 2 singles and as Basica's doubles partner, Kati Kocsis in the No. 4 slot and Kelly Rudolph in the No. 6 position.

Singles
No. 1   (44)Elisa Penalvo (Marquette) def. (9)Annica Cooper (UCLA)  3-6, 6-3, 6-3
No. 2   (32)Cristina Popescu (UCLA) def. Ana Fernandez (Marquette)  6-4, 6-4
No. 3   Ester Ruiz de Ona (Marquette) def. (60)Elizabeth Schmidt (UCLA)     7-5, 6-1
No. 4   Kati Kocsis (UCLA) def. Sara Fernandez (Marquette)  6-2, 4-6, 6-1
No. 5   Amanda Basica (UCLA) def. Jessie Klick (Marquette)  6-0, 6-2
No. 6   Kelly Rudolph (UCLA) def. Christine DiMasi (Marquette)  6-2, 6-0

Doubles 
No. 1   Katia Roubanova/Elizabeth Schmidt (UCLA) vs. (18)Elisa Penalvo/Ana Fernandez (Mar)  DNP
No. 2   Annica Cooper/Kati Kocsis (UCLA) vs. Sara Farnandez/Ester Ruiz de Ona (Mar) DNP
No. 3   Amanda Basica/Cristina Popescu (UCLA) def. Jessie Klick/Christine DiMasi (Mar)  *8-0

Final Team Score: UCLA 5, Marquette 2
* indicates clinching match