March 25, 1998

AUSTIN, Texas - The No. 8 California women's tennis team lost 6-3 to third-ranked Georgia on March 25 to complete a disappointing Southern road trip which also included a 5-4 loss to No. 9 Texas on March 24. The Bears lost two consectutive matches for the first time this season and now have a 13-4 overall record.

Cal put up a valient fight against the Lady Bulldogs, forcing them to three sets after losing the first in four singles matches. Esther Knox, at No. 2, was the only one to pull off a win, upsetting Vanessa Castellano, the nation's 14th-ranked player, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Anita Kurimay recorded a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Jane Reid at No. 4 to keep Cal's hopes alive going into doubles play. However,only the No. 3 tandem of Francesca La'O and Claire Curran were able to eek out a win, 9-8, over Chrisa Grey and Zoe Mellis.

Cal now travels to Southern California to play No. 18 USC on April 3 at 1:30 p.m. and No. 14 UCLA on April 4 at 12 Noon.

NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS

No. 8 Cal vs. No. 3 Georgia
Final Score: Cal - 3 Georgia - 6
(ITA rankings in parentheses)
Singles
No. 1 (#2) Marissa Catlin (G) def. (#9) Amanda Augustus (C) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
No. 2 (#39) Esther Knox (C) def. (#14) Vanessa Castellano (G) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
No. 3 (#97) Aarthi Venkatesan (G)   def. Amy Jensen (C) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
No. 4 Anita Kurimay (C) def. Jane Reid (G) 7-5, 6-4
No. 5 Christa Grey (G)  def. Francesca La'O (C) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
No. 6 Zoe Mellis (G) def. Stephanie Tibbits (C) 6-4, 6-0 
Doubles
No. 1 (#3) Catlin/Castellano (G) def. (#12) Augustus/Jensen (C)  8-5
No. 2 Venkatesean/ Reid (G) def. (#21) Knox/ Kurimay (C) 8-5
No. 3 Francesca La'O/ Claire Curran (C) def. Grey/Mellis (G)  9-8 (8-6)