Oct. 5, 2002

In pre-qualifiying competition at the Riviera/ITA All-American Tournament on Saturday on the campus of UCLA, Baylor freshman tennis player Stephanie Balzert was the lone Lady Bear of three to advance past the first round. In doubles, freshman Izabela Mijic and sophomore Daria Potapova won their first round match.

Balzert defeated Washington State's Nora Gaal in straight sets before falling in the second round to UC Santa Barbara's Uzma Kahn. Potapova and Mijic each lost first round matches. Mijic fell to Renate Stoop of Boise State and Potapova lost to Melissa Esmero of Southern California.

If first-round doubles action, Mijic and Potapova posted an 8-5 win over Vlatka Jovanovic/Katherin Winterhalter of Fresno State. They will face Duke's Julia Smith and Katie Granson on Sunday. Two rounds of doubles will be played on Sunday. The winners will advance to the qualifying draw, Oct. 8-9 at the Riviera Tennis Cub. Senior Vida Mulce is already in the qualifying draw and she and Balzert will play doubles in the qualifying draw.

Saturday Baylor Results:
Singles
First Round
Melissa Esmero (USC) def. Daria Potapova (BU) 6-2, 6-4
Renate Stoop (Boise State) def. Izabela Mijic (BU) 6-0, 6-1
Stephanie Balzert (BU) def. Nora Gaal (WSC) 7-6(5), 6-4

Second Round
Uzma Khan (UCSB) def. Balzert (BU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
First Round
Izaela Mijic/Daria Potapova (BU) def. Vlatka Jovanovic/Katherin Winterhalter (Fresno State) 8-5

For more information contact: Julie Bennett, (254) 710-3042 or 857-4373, Julie_Bennett@baylor.edu