Women's tennis team dogged in tournament

By Hilary Strickland, Online Forty-Niner

Thursday, November 4, 1998

The Fresno State Bulldogs hosted and dominated the Dog Classic at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center in Fresno this weekend.

Long Beach State's Connie Burggraf advanced to Round 16 in the women's singles open bracket on Sunday, but was defeated by Renee Kops-Jones of Fresno State in three sets (6-0, 1-6, 6-2).

Lara Spica, from Long Beach State, also got to Round 16 in the singles bracket Sunday. Shana Peete, of Fresno State, beat Spica in two sets (7-6, 6-1).

The 49ers were represented by Judy Esmero in the women's open singles consolation bracket Sunday. Esmero played hard all weekend and advanced to the semifinals, but was defeated by Ana Bihler from Nevada in two sets (6-3, 6-4).

Bihler continued to the final round and defeated Dina Dajani from the University of the Pacific, in two sets (7-6, 6-4). Bihler's win over Dajani made her the champion in the women's open singles consolation bracket.

In Round 16 of the women's open doubles bracket, Esmero and Jessica Perico from Long Beach State were defeated by Diana D'Audney and Dina Dajani from the University of the Pacific, 8-5.

Allison Arvizu and Dianne Asis, from Long Beach State, made it to the semifinal round in the women's open doubles bracket. Asis and Arvizu were defeated by first-seeded Renee Kops-Jones and Shana Peete of Fresno State (6-4, 7-6).

Kops-Jones and Peete went on to win the bracket. They defeated their teammates, second-seed, Dora Djilianova and Chantel Wiggins in two sets (6-3, 6-3).

The Bulldog's Dora Djilianova won her third-straight singles Dog Classic Tennis Tournament title. Djilianova was the top seed at the onset of the tournament and defeated her teammate and second-seeded Shana Peete (6-3, 6-4) for the singles title.

Long Beach State women's tennis will resume at the Rolex Regional Tournament in Irvine on Nov. 10.