May 25, 2004

ATHENS, GA.-Senior Amanda Johnson advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Individual Singles Championship for the second straight year on Tuesday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.

A Bettendorf, Iowa product, Johnson picked up a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 61st-ranked Kelly Schmandt of Vanderbilt. Johnson, who is ranked eighth and seeded seventh, will next go up against 16th-ranked Aibika Kalsarieva of Kentucky on Wednesday. Earlier this season, Johnson defeated Kalsarieva, 6-4, 6-3, on Jan. 31 against the Wildcats.

"I'm happy as I played well enough to get through another match," said Johnson. "I'm still trying to get things to work like my serve and forehand so I can dictate. It's nice playing early in the day as it's humid but a little easier to deal with than 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. I'm used to the humidity which is good. It definitely helps to get a good start and get the first set. If you don't it means you have to fight twice as hard."

Kalsarieva notched a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 win over 32nd-ranked Shadisha Robinson of Georgia on Tuesday to advance.

The victory was her 117th of her career to move her into a tie for seventh place on Duke's all-time wins list along with Karen Goldstein and Monica Mraz.

In the NCAA Doubles Championship, Johnson teamed with freshman Tory Zawacki also on Tuesday, but the duo lost a three-set battle to 25th-ranked Linda Tran and Sarah Batty of Indiana, 6-7, 6-2, 6-1.