March 25, 1999

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Duke's 2nd-ranked women's tennis team withheld a strong performance from 27th-ranked North Carolina as the Blue Devils captured the conference opener for both teams, 9-0, Wednesday.

Duke snapped North Carolina's four-match winning streak, improving to 11-3 overall, 1-0 in the ACC. North Carolina fell to 9-4, 0-1 in the conference.

In singles action, three Tar Heels split sets with their ranked rivals before falling in the final set. At # 3 singles, Senior Sarah Hawkins captured the first set, 7-5, but dropped the final two sets, 6-1, 6-1, to 21st-ranked Megan Miller. Junior Cena Hackler lost to 39th-ranked Karen Goldstein at #4 singles, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, while Courtney Zalinski fell to 83rd-ranked Kathy Sell, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, at #5 singles. Junior Jeni Burnette could not overcome a devastating first set at #6 singles, losing 6-0, 7-5 to 73rd-ranked Erica Biro. The lost was the first of the spring season for Burnette. Freshman Caroline Hill pushed 34th-ranked Kristin Sanderson to the edge, but fell 6-4, 7-5 at #2 singles.

The #2 doubles team of Hill and Zalinski fell to Duke's Miller and Sell, 8-6, while the duo of Burnette and Hawkins fell to Duke's Brooke Siebel and Kristin Sanderson, 8-5, at #3 doubles. Carolina's Jessica Zaganczyk and Hackler fell to the 3rd-ranked team of Vanessa Webb and Goldstein, 8-5.

UNC will travel to Atlanta, Ga., Saturday to face ACC-rival Georgia Tech. Play begins at 11 a.m

1. #3  Vanessa Webb (DU) d. Jessica Zaganczyk (UNC)        6-1, 6-0
2. #34 Kristin Sanderson (DU) d. Caroline Hill (UNC)       6-4, 7-5
3. #21 Megan Miller (DU) d. Sarah Hawkins (UNC)       5-7, 6-1, 6-1 
4. #39 Karen Goldstein (DU) d. Cena Hackler (UNC)     4-6, 6-4, 6-1 
5. #83 Kathy Sell (DU) d. Courtney Zalinski (UNC)     6-2, 3-6, 6-2 
6. #73 Erica Biro (DU) d. Jeni Burnette (UNC)              6-0, 7-5 

1. #3 Webb/Goldstein (DU) d. Zaganczyk/Hackler (UNC)            8-5 
2. Miller/Sell (DU) d. Hill/Zalinski (UNC)                      8-6
3. Sanderson/Siebel (DU) d. Burnette/Hawkins (UNC)              8-5

 Duke            11-3 overall, 1-0 conf.
 North Carolina   9-4 overall, 0-1 conf.