March 24, 2000

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina's women's tennis team lost its second ACC match in as many days Friday, falling to No. 20 Florida State by a score 5-2 in Raleigh.

The high point of the match for the Heels was a win at No. 1 doubles by freshman Marlene Mejia and junior Erin Niebling. The tandem defeated the Seminole duo of Alida Gallovits and Nanette Duxin 8-6. Junior Courtney Zalinski was the lone Tar Heel to post a singles win, rallying to beat the Seminoles' Marina Raic in a three-set thriller at No. 5 (1-6, 6-2, 6-3). Carolina fell short in two other three-set singles matches, as freshmen Marlene Mejia and Kate Pinchbeck both lost close contests.

With the match already decided, the teams did not play No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Carolina, ranked No. 51 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, falls to 5-8 and 0-2 in the ACC with the loss. The win moves Florida State to 13-3 overall and 3-0 in conference play.

"We played a pretty good Florida State team today and had some real opportunities to even the match in singles," said Carolina head coach Roland Thornqvist. "Hopefully we can learn from today's match and be ready for Georgia Tech on Sunday." UNC hosts No. 27 Georgia Tech Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

No. 20 Florida State 5, No. 51 North Carolina 2

Singles
1. Alida Gallovits (FSU) d. Marlene Mejia (UNC), 6-0, 6-7, 6-3
2. Nanette Duxin (FSU) d. Jessica Zaganczyk (UNC), 6-1, 6-0
3. Kia Asberg (FSU) d. Kendrick Bunn (UNC), 6-1, 6-2
4. Jessica Balbuena (FSU) d. Caroline Hill (UNC), 6-3, 6-2
5. Courtney Zalinski (UNC) d. Marina Raic (FSU), 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. Ali Weber (FSU) d. Kate Pinchbeck (UNC), 7-5, 4-6, 7-5

Doubles
1. Mejia/Erin Niebling (UNC) d. Gallovits/Duxin (FSU), 8-6