March 2, 2001

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Wake Forest women's tennis team dropped to 5-5 on the season by suffering another close battle against a ranked opponent. The Deacons, ranked 20th, fell 4-3 to 14th-ranked Tennessee on Friday in Knoxville.

The Lady Vols took an early 1-0 advantage by winning two of the three opening doubles matches. UTÕs No. 3 pairing of Agnes Wiski (Flushing, N.Y./Benjamin Cardozo) and Brooke Cordell (Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Baylor) struck first with an 8-2 triumph over WakeÕs Jackie Houston and Elizabeth Proctor. Junior Alison Ojeda (San Antonio, Texas/Douglas MacArthur) and sophomore Crystal Cleveland (Delray Beach, Fla./Westminster Academy) clinched the lone doubles point for the Orange and White by defeating Janet Bergman and Maren Haus 8-6 at No. 2. With the doubles point already decided, Wake ForestÕs No. 1 tandem of Bea Bielik and Aimee Smith slipped past Kim Gates (Grandville, Mich./University of Texas) and Vilmarie Castellvi (Guaynabo, P.R./Academia San Jose Villa Caparra) 8-7 (4).

Shortly after singles play began, rain forced the action indoors. The Deacons took advantage of the venue change as Bielik defeated Ojeda 6-3, 7-5 at No. 1, Bergman handled Gates 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 and Haus beat Castellvi 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4) at No. 3. However, the Lady Vols struck back at No. 4 with WiskiÕs 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Houston. ClevelandÕs 6-3, 6-4 win against Proctor at No. 5 evened the teamsÕ scores at three.

With all eyes on the No. 6 match, Cordell sank Smith 7-6 (4), 6-3 giving UT its fifth straight win.

Up next, the Lady Vols head into Southeastern Conference play on Sunday when they travel to Fayetteville, Ark. to take on the Lady Razorbacks. The match is set to begin at noon CT.

Singles:
1. Bea Bielik (WF) def Alison Ojeda (UT) 6-3, 7-5
2. Janet Bergman (WF) def Kim Gates (UT) 6-4, 6-4
3. Maren Haus (WF) def Vilmarie Castellvi (UT) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4)
4. Agnes Wiski (UT) def Jackie Houston (WF) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
5. Crystal Cleveland (UT) def Elizabeth Proctor (WF) 6-3, 6-4
6. Brooke Cordell (UT) def Aimee Smith (WF) 7-6 (4), 6-3

Doubles:
1. Bielik/Smith (WF) def Castellvi/Gates (UT) 8-7 (4)
2. Ojeda/Cleveland (UT) def Bergman/Haus (WF) 8-6
3. Cordell/Wiski (UT) def Houston/Proctor (WF) 8-2