October 31, 1998

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State's women's tennis team finished the opening day of the Lady Seminole Classic with only one defeat in singles competition today at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center. The Lady Seminoles concluded their afternoon going undefeated in the doubles flights of the tournament.

"We completed our matches very well today," said head coach Lise Gregory. "It is definitely considered a good day any time you can enter your entire team in a tournament and suffer only one loss."

Florida State started the day with singles victories from all of the Lady Seminoles. Nanette Duxin of FSU defeated Johanne Mowatt of FAMU 6-0, 6-1 in her opening match of flight A singles competition. Fellow Seminole, Jessica Balbuena, also won her opening flight A match against Aude Boulle of Georgia Southern 6-0, 3-6, 6-2.

In flight B competition, FSU's number one seed Ali Weber defeated Georgia Southern's Carolyn Aldridge 6-0, 6-1 in her only singles match of the day. Also in flight B competition, Florida State's Marina Raic and Kia Asberg won both of their first round matches. Raic downed South Florida's Zubor Ildiko 6-3, 6-0 in her opening match and seventh seed Kia Asberg defeated Judith Boban of Auburn 6-4, 6-0.

Seminoles Kylie Thompson, Christy Travis, and Natalie Carratala were all victorious in their opening matches in flight C singles. Second seed Thompson defeated Alex Chong of Florida International 6-4, 6-1 and third seed Natalie Carratala was victorious over Miami's Alison Baxter 6-0, 6-0. Teammate Christy Travis downed Andrea Rose of Minnesota 6-3, 6-1 in her opening match.

Seminoles Duxin, Raic, Weber, Asberg, Thompson, Carratala and Travis have all advanced to the quarterfinal rounds of their of their respective singles flights.

In doubles action, Florida State finished the afternoon undefeated.

In flight A doubles, Weber and Asberg teamed to defeat Goldthreate and Thompson of FAMU and Balbuena and Duxin defeated McGowan and Vargas of Jacksonville University.

In flight B doubles competition, Florida State's Carratala and Travis defeated Stetson's Reyes and Woods and Seminole's Raic and Thompson paired to down FAMU's Granderson and Mowatt.

Quarterfinal singles play will begin tomorrow at 8 a.m. with doubles action to follow. Play will conclude around 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

"There are no easy matches from here on in through the tournament," said Gregory. "But if we complete like we did today we should win a lot of matches tomorrow and be in good position for flight championships on Sunday."