Sept. 22, 1999

PIKESVILLE, Md. -- After capturing three victories during Tuesday's qualifying, North Carolina's doubles team of Marlene Mejia and Jessica Zagancyzk advanced to the T. Rowe Price National Clay Court Championships, which begin Thursday.

Mejia, a freshman from Lansdale, Pa., and Zagancyzk, a senior from Virginia Beach, Va., opened qualifying competition with an 8-3 victory over Mississippi State's Ivana Belancic and Amelie Detriviere. The duo then defeated Natalia Alekhova and Anna Friganovic of New Mexico 8-5 in the second round and bested Alison Ojeda and Agnes Wiski of Tennessee 8-5 to advance to the 16-team main draw of the tournament. All matches are eight-game pro sets.

In Wednesday's singles action, Zagancyzk defeated LL Jana Perkova of UTEP by a score of 8-5 before being edged by South Alabama's Anke Roose 9-8 in the second round. Mejia was defeated by Mira Radu of Mississippi in the first round by a score of 8-5. Sophomore Caroline Hill of Chapel Hill was defeated by Colorado's Jessica Garrow 8-3, also in the opening round.

The tournament, which is being held at the Suburban Club of Baltimore County, is the first leg of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Grand Slam. The Tar Heels open their fall schedule Oct. 1-3 when they host the UNC Invitational at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.