Columbia
COLUMBIA CLASSIC
Season Opener for Women's Tennis Sees Fine Individual Performances
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
NEW YORK -- Columbia's Stephanie Zilberman and Shoko Okuda reached the semifinals of the "A" flight singles as the Columbia Classic began on Friday, September 19.
Zilberman reached the semis after a bye in the first round, then defeated teammate Sydney Murray, 6-1, 6-2 in the second round. Murray had defeated Harvard's Samantha Gridley 7-5, 7-6 in the first round.
On the other side of the draw, Okuda won 6-2, 6-4 over Jenny Yonkus of St. John's in the opening round. Okuda then defeated teammate Nina Suda 6-1, 6-4 in the second round to advance.
In the "B" flight singles, Columbia also had a pair of teammates reach the semifinals. First-year Celine Pascheles won her collegiate debut 7-6, 6-1 in the opening round, then defeated teammate Natalia Christenson 6-4, 6-1 in round two.
Pascheles will meet senior Marlena Hall in the semifinals. Hall disposed of Harvard's Rachel Gottlieb in round one 6-1, 6-0, then defeated teammate Carling Donovan 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the semis.
Competition on Saturday begins at 9 a.m. at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center.
