Sept. 23, 1999

PIKESVILLE, Md. -- After winning three matches Tuesday to qualify for the T. Rowe Price National Clay Court Championships, North Carolina's doubles team of Marlene Mejia and Jessica Zagancyzk was ousted Thursday in the opening round of the main draw.

Georgia's Esther Knox and Aarthi Venkatesan defeated the Tar Heel duo by a score of 6-4, 6-4. Mejia is a freshman from Lansdale, Pa., while Zagancyzk is a senior from Virginia Beach, Va.

The tournament is being held at the Suburban Club of Baltimore County and is the first leg of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Grand Slam.

The Tar Heels, who are coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance, next take the court Oct. 1-3 when they host the UNC Invitational at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.