Thursday, October 21, 2004

Winston-Salem, N.C. (Oct. 21, 2004) - The East Tennessee State women's tennis team completed day one of the Wilson-ITA Southeast Regional Indoors today in Winston-Salem, N.C.

            The day began strong with Sylwia Ziolkowska (Warsaw, Poland) and Mariia Ilina (Kyiv, Ukraine) winning their first singles matches of the day in the qualifying singles. Ziolkowska took Duke's Parker Goyer in three sets 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Ilina faced Kelly Fleck of SoCon rival school Elon and won 6-1, 6-4.

            "Sylwia played well against Goyer and it's a good win for her," said Head Coach Steve Brooks.

In their second rounds, Ziolkowska picked up a win against Lindsey Powel of Davidson 6-4, 6-1, while Ilina picked up 6-1, 7-5 win over Larisa Bekmatova of Winthrop. With the wins, Ziolkowska and Ilina move into the main draw. Ziolkowka will face Jena Long of UNC Chapel Hill, while Ilina will face Karin Coetzee of Wake Forest.

Newcomer Sandie Knight (Adamstown, Australia) will join the two in singles competition and face No. 12 seed Barbara Orlay of North Carolina State in her first match of the tournament.

"Sandie faced Orlay last year in the first round of this tournament," stated Brooks. "It will be a good test for her early on."

In doubles action, the two paired up to take on the Fillnow twins, Kelly and Meghan, from Davidson and garnered an 8-5 win to advance to the second round where they will face Winthrop's Bekmatova and Danielle Moita.

            The Bucs continue action tomorrow as they begin day two of the Wilson-ITA Southeast Regional Indoors at 8:00 a.m.