April 23, 1999

NORCROSS, Ga. - Upset victories by the 28th-ranked North Carolina women's tennis team and the #1 singles and #1 doubles positions propelled the Tar Heels to a 5-3 victory over 37th-ranked Maryland in the 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Tennis Championship quarterfinals at the Racquet Club of the South.

With the victory over the Terrapins, fourth-seeded UNC advanced to Saturday's semifinal round where it will play fourth-ranked Duke at 2 p.m. The top-seeded Blue Devils advanced to the semifinals by defeating eighth-seeded Georgia Tech 5-0 Friday in the quarterfinals.

The close Tar Heel victory was fueled by victories at the top spot in both singles and doubles where UNC upset nationally-ranked Terrapin opponents. At #1 singles, Carolina junior Jessica Zaganczyk outlasted 92nd-ranked Meg Griffin of Maryland, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. UNC then clinched the victory when Zaganczyk and fellow junior Cena Hackler upset the 18th-ranked Maryland duo of Griffin and Lorraine Bittles at #1 doubles, 9-7.

Carolina's other victories in singles came at the #5 and #6 spots where sophomore Courtney Zalinski and junior Jeni Burnette both won straight set victories.

With the match tied 3-3 heading into doubles, the Tar Heels appeared in trouble. Carolina has struggled all season long in doubles play, particularly in ACC play. But Burnette and Zalinski claimed an 8-5 victory at #3 doubles over the Terps' Adrienne Pavelko and Courtney Perkins to stake the Heels to a 4-3 lead. Then Hackler and Zaganczyk came through with their upset win at #1 doubles to clinch the match for Coach Roland Thornqvist's team.

With the win, Carolina improved to 15-7 on the season while the fifth-seeded Terrapins fell to 12-8.

#28 NORTH CAROLINA 5, #37 MARYLAND 3

SINGLES
1. Jessica Zaganczyk (UNC) d. #92 Meg Griffin (UM), 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
2. Lorraine Bittles (UM) d. Caroline Hill (UNC), 6-3, 7-5
3. Stacy Walkowitz (UM) d. Cena Hackler (UNC), 6-4, 6-2
4. Chrissie Terrill (UM) d. Sarah Hawkins (UNC), 5-7, 7-6, 6-2
5. Courtney Zalinski (UNC) d. Adrienne Pavelko (UM), 6-3, 6-1
6. Jeni Burnette (UNC) d. Courtney Perkins (UM), 6-4, 6-4

DOUBLES
1. Cena Hackler/Jessica Zaganczyk (UNC) d. #18 Lorraine Bittles/Meg Griffin (UM), 9-7
2. Sarah Hawkins/Caroline Hill (UNC) vs. Chrissie Terrill/Stacy Walkowitz (UM), Did Not Finish
3. Jeni Burnette/Courtney Zalinski (UNC) d. Adrienne Pavelko/Courtney Perkins (UM), 8-5

Records: Maryland 12-8; North Carolina 15-7