Nov. 6, 1999

WINSTON-SALEM – Three North Carolina women’s tennis players, all freshmen, won first round singles matches Friday at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Women’s Southeast Regional Indoor Championships in Winston-Salem.

No. 8 seed Marlene Mejia of Lansdale, Pa., defeated Katrin Gaber of Campbell (6-1,6-0), while Wilson’s Kendrick Bunn ousted Sarah Witten of Kentucky (7-6, 6-3). Kate Pinchbeck of Edmondson Park, Australia, moved on by virtue of her win over Karolina Glowacka of UT-Chattanooga (6-2, 6-1).

The Tar Heel doubles squads experienced success as well. Bunn and Pinchbeck defeated Torres/Ellbring of East Carolina (8-5), and Mejia and junior Erin Niebling of Bay Head, N.J., bested East Tennessee State’s team of Inoue/Vega (8-4).

Play resumes Saturday. The singles finalists and doubles champion advance to the ITA Indoor Nationals, held in Dallas in February 2000.