March 11, 2000

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina's women's tennis team won its third straight match Saturday afternoon, winning five singles matches in straight sets and defeating Iowa 5-4 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

"This was the best win so far this season for our team," says UNC head coach Roland Thornqvist, in his second year as the lead mentor at his alma mater. "Iowa was an NCAA Sweet 16 team last year and we were the superior team today. That was very encourgaing."

The Tar Heels won five of the six singles matches in convincing fashion as freshman Marlene Mejia won at #1 singles, senior Jessica Zaganczyk at #2 singles, freshman Kendrick Bunn at #3 singles, sophomore Caroline Hill at #4 singles and freshman Kate Pinchbeck at #6 singles.

With the win UNC improved to 5-5 on the season while the Hawkeyes fell to 3-7. The Tar Heels will play their next match at #5 Florida Monday in Gainseville, Fla. at 5 p.m.

#27 NORTH CAROLINA 5, #36 IOWA 4

Singles
#1 Marlene Mejia (UNC) d. Shera Wiegler (UI), 7-5, 6-3
#2 Jessica Zaganczyk (UNC) d. Toni Neykova (UI), 6-2, 6-4
#3 Kendrick Bunn (UNC) d. Natalya Dawaf (UI), 6-4, 6-2
#4 Caroline Hill (UNC) d. Megan Kearney (UI), 6-3, 6-3
#5 Erica Johnson (UI) d. Courtney Zalinski (UNC), 6-4, 6-3
#6 Kate Pinchbeck (UNC) d. Steffi Hoch (UI), 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
#1 Wiegler-Neykova (UI) d. Mejia-Zaganczyk (UNC), 8-4
#2 Dawaf-Jennifer Sinclair (UI) d. Bunn-Pinchbeck (UNC), 9-8
#3 Johnson-Kearney (UI) d. Hill-Zalinski (UNC), 8-6
Records: North Carolina 5-5, Iowa 3-7