Sept. 14, 2007

WEST POINT, N.Y.--Junior Kristy Borza and freshman Elizabeth Adams of the Pitt women's tennis team went 2-0 on the first day of the Women's Eastern Collegiate Invitational held at Army, advancing to the semifinals.

Seventh-seeded Borza (Beaver, Pa./Beaver Area) advanced to the semifinals of play after wins over St. Bonaventure's Yolanda Callagan (6-2, 6-0) and Denise Lieschner of Seton Hall (6-1, 6-0). Borza faces Seima Babic of Long Island next.

Also advancing to the semis with a 2-0 day, Adams (Reading, Pa./Wilson) will play Jinny DeCarlos of FDU, next. Adams defeated Providence's Dara Hawkins-Hogson, 6-2, 6-0. Afterwards, she dropped seventh-ranked Emily Herb in a 6-3, 6-3 match.

Junior Christie D'achille (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) won her opening match in No. 4 singles over Sacred Heart's Darcy Demers, 6-0, 7-5. She would then drop close 7-5, 6-4 sets to sixth-seeded Megan Doran.

In No. 2 singles, sophomore Sabrina Visram (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Prep) dropped her first match to fourth-seeded Any Zhang of Rutgers, 5-7, 1-6. Later in the consolation bracket, Visram was victorious in her match against Raquel Solis, 8-6. She will meet Christie Gatlearo in the consolation semis.

Senior Carlie Smith (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) and sophomore Shannon Benic (Fox Chapel, Pa./Fox Chapel) teamed in No. 1 doubles, earning an 8-1 victory over DeCarlos and Dzana Ferhatbegaovic of FDU. The duo then fell 8-4 to UConn's doubles team.

In No. 2 doubles, sophomore Anna Broverman (Asbury, W.Va./Geroge Washington) and freshman Stephanie Scheinoff also garnered a first round win, posting an 8-2 victory over a duo from Niagara. Later they fell to a third-seeded team from UMass (8-3).

Action continues tomorrow on day two of the Women's Eastern Collegiate Invitational.