May 19, 2003

Gainesville, FL - Two out of three UCLA entrants in the NCAA Singles Championship came out with first-round wins this morning. With the victories, Sara Walker and Jackie Carleton advance to compete tomorrow morning in second-round play.

Walker defeated No. 46 Courtney Bergman of Harvard, the Crimson's top player, 6-0, 6-2, for her 21st win of the year. Walker, the 12th-ranked player on the ITA's singles list, moves on to face No. 59 Tammy Encina of Tennessee. Encina was a 6-1, 6-1 winner over No. 55 Anne Nguyen of Georgia in the first round. Walker's teammate, Carleton, defeated Encina 6-0, 6-2 at the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Tournament in February. Walker's match will take place at 10:30 a.m. Gainesville time, 7:30 a.m. Los Angeles time.

Carleton, the 20th-ranked player in the nation, earned her 24th win of the year when she defeated No. 54 Courtney Nagle of Oregon, 6-3, 6-2, to gain a pass to the second round. Carleton will face No. 33 Julie Smekodub of Tulane, a 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 winner over No. 58 Melissa Applebaum of Miami (Fla.), at 9 a.m. Gainesville time, 6 a.m. Pacific.

Susi Wild fell to No. 19 Amanda Johnson of Duke, 6-0, 6-3. Wild, the No. 50 player in the nation, completed her 2003 season with a 19-12 overall record.

For more information on the 2003 NCAA Singles Championship, click here