May 24, 2004

ATHENS, GA.- Duke University senior Amanda Johnson advanced to the second round of the NCAA Individual Singles Championship on Monday with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over 26th-ranked Ramona But of Maryland at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.

Johnson, an eighth-ranked native of Bettendorf, Iowa, will next battle 61st-ranked Kelly Schmandt of Vanderbilt on Tuesday, who knocked off 79th-ranked Svetlana Kouzmenko of SMU, 7-5, 6-3.

"I played a little tight today to start with," said Johnson. "She [Ramona But] played well and I was able to start playing more of my game in the second set. I am hoping I will play better tomorrow and get a little better each day as the tournament goes on."

With the victory Johnson improves to 116-34 for her career in singles action. She needs one more victory to move into a tie for seventh place on Duke's all-time wins list with Karen Goldstein and Monica Mraz.

In the NCAA Doubles Championship, Johnson will team with freshman Tory Zawacki. The duo are seeded third and ranked ninth. They will first go up against 25th-ranked Linda Tran and Sarah Batty of Indiana on Tuesday.

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