May 20, 1999

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No. 5 seed Duke (26-3) won its 15th straight match and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the 10th year in a row with a decisive 5-0 victory over Iowa (18-9) Thursday morning at Floridas Linder Stadium.

The victory was Dukes sixth straight shutout win and the first ever meeting with the Hawkeyes. NCAA singles champion Vanessa Webb clinched the team victory with a 6-2, 6-3 decision over Toni Neykova at No. 1. Webb rallied from an 0-3 deficit in the second set to secure her 38th win of the year for a 38-2 overall record in 1998-99.

"It was a good opening day for us," said third year head coach Jamie Ashworth. "We knew coming in we were the better team and that doesnt always make it easy. I thought we handled it well and were determined to play well. I am pleased."

Webb also liked the teams play saying, "Our goal is to win a national championship and I thought we approached it that way today. I am happy with how we started."

Dukes 26 wins is one shy of the all-time single season record set last year when the Blue Devils advanced to the national championship match. The Blue Devils will face No. 4 seed Mississippi, a 5-0 victor over Fresno State, in Fridays quarterfinal match. The match will be played on the Back Courts beginning at 10 am.

NCAA Womens Tennis Championships
Gainesville, Fla.

#5 Duke 5, Iowa 0
Vanessa Webb (D) d. Toni Neykova (I) 6-2, 6-3
Kristin Sanderson (D) susp. with Shera Wiegler (I) 6-2, 5-2, susp.
Megan Miller (D) d. Natalya Dawaf (I) 6-1, 6-0
Karen Goldstein (D) d. Emily Bampton (I) 6-4, 6-1
Erica Biro (D) d. Erica Johnson (I) 6-1, 6-0
Kathy Sell (D) d. Erin Wolverton (I) 6-0, 6-0