It's An All-Stanford Singles Final at The Women's Northwest Rolex Regional Tournament

Cardinal Also Hold Three Spots in the Doubles Semifinals

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford's Julie Scott and Teryn Ashley, the No. 1 and No. 6 seeds, respectively, each captured their semifinal matches at the 1997 Women's Northwest Rolex Regional Tennis Tournament at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium to make it an all-Stanford singles final.

It was Stanford versus Fresno State in the semifinals. Scott (Austin,TX/Stephen F. Austin), came back from a 6-7 loss in the first set to sweep the next 12 games and defeat fourth-seeded Dora Djilianova of Fresno State 6-7, 6-0, 6-0. Ashley (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline HS) defeated the Bulldogs' Liesl Fichtbauer in the other semifinal 6-4, 6-3, ending Fichtbauer's impressive run against the Cardinal.

Fichtbauer, the only non-seeded player to make the semifinals, had defeated Stanford's Ania Bleszynski and Jennifer Heiser successively to reach the semi's. In doubles, the Cardinal are faring just as well, placing all three of its doubles teams in the semifinals. A much anticipated showdown between Stanford's Scott and Bleszynski (No. 1 seed) and Fresno State's Djilianova and Fichtbauer (No. 6 seed) didn't materialize as the Bulldog pair withdrew due to injury. Stanford's Heiser and Sarah Pestieau continued their impressive run in just their first tournament playing together.

The freshman Pestieau and sophomore Heiser (Stockton, CA/Lincoln HS) became the only unseeded pair to advance to the semi's with a 7-5, 6-2 upset victory over California's Esther Knox and Claire Curran, the tourney's No. 3 seed. California did however place one team in the semi's.

The No. 2 seeded team of Amanda Augustus and Amy Jensen defeated Saint Mary's Therese Smyth and Mili Shah 6-2, 6-2. Stanford's fourth-seeded team of Anne Kremer and Ashley rounded out the semifinal field with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Andrea Reisz and Erica Perkins of Washington State. Scott and Bleszynski will face Heiser and Pestieau in one semifinal match, ensuring at least one Cardinal team in the finals. Kremer and Ashley will battle Cal's Augustus and Jensen in the other semifinal match.

After dropping her opening match in the main draw, California's Jensen, the tourney's No. 3 seed, continued to rise through the consolation bracket with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Oregon's Shanelle Kaneshiro. She will face teammate Stephanie Tibbits in the semifinals.

Rounding out the consolation semifinals will be Pacific's Mari Maattenen, a 6-2, 7-5(6) winner over Danielle Brandlin of Cal Poly SLO, and Portland's Erin Smith, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Kathrine Rivett of California.

The final day of the tournament, featuring the singles final and both the doubles and consolation singles semi's and finals, will get underway tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. The winners of the singles and doubles finals will be assured a berth in the 1998 Rolex National Individual Championships, held February 5-8 in Dallas, Texas.

Day Three Results of the Northwest Rolex Regional:

Quarterfinal Singles
(1) Julie Scott (Stanford) d. Kristina Kraszewski (Washington) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
(4) Dora Djilianova (Fresno State) d. (8) Anita Kurimay (California) 6-3, 7-6(4)
(6) Teryn Ashley (Stanford) d. Zuzana Stunova (Washington) 6-3, 6-2
Liesl Fichtbauer (Fresno State) d. Jennifer Heiser (Stanford) 6-2, 6-2

Quarterfinal Doubles
(1) Scott/Bleszynski (Stanford) (6) Djilianova/Fichtbauer (Fresno State) WD-ILL
(2) Augustus/Jensen (California) d. Smyth/Shah (Saint Mary's) 6-2, 6-2
Heiser/Pestieau (Stanford) d. (3) Knox/Curran (California) 7-5, 6-2
(4) Kremer/Ashley (Stanford) d. Perkins/Reisz (Washington State) 6-2, 6-4

Semifinal Singles
(1) Julie Scott (Stanford) d. (4) Dora Djilianova (Fresno State) 6-7, 6-0, 6-0
(6) Teryn Ashley (Stanford) d. Liesl Fichtbauer (Fresno State) 6-4, 6-3

Quarterfinal Singles (Consolation)
Mari Maattenen (Pacific) d. Danielle Brandlin (Cal Poly SLO) 6-2, 7-5(6)
Erin Smith (Portland) d. Kathrine Rivett (California) 6-3, 6-3
Amy Jensen (California) d. Shanelle Kaneshiro (Oregon) 6-3, 6-4
Stephanie Tibbits (California) d. Lara Botts (Washington) 6-0, 6-4

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