Sept. 21, 2007

HOUSTON - With the first day of action at the 27th annual Rice Tennis Classic in Houston, the Baylor's Zuzana Chmelarova and Jana Bielikova are on a collision course to meet each other in the championship match.

Chmelarova started the day with a 6-2, 6-0 win against UT-San Antonio's Monika Drabkova before advancing to the quarterfinals by besting Texas' Sara Lancaster (4-6, 6-4, 7-5).

On the bottom half of the Jimmy John's Singles bracket, Bielikova won in straight sets against Southern Methodist's Kseniia Tokarieva (6-4, 6-1). Later in the afternoon she also faced a member of the Texas Longhorns squad. In similar fashion, Bielikova came out victorious, picking up another straight set decision, 6-3, 6-4.

Freshman Karolina Filipiak is also representing Baylor at the event. Filipiak struggled out of the gates, losing to South Methodist's Pavi Francis in the opening round. Filipiak quickly turned things around and her first collegiate victory with a 6-2, 7-6 (1) decision against Arkansas State's Maria Oprea on the consolation side of the Jersey Mike's Singles bracket.

All three athletes are also competing in doubles competition and earned first-round wins to advance to the semi-finals.

Action continues in Houston beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. All three Baylor athletes are scheduled to begin their singles matches at noon.