OXFORD, Miss. - The Kansas State women’s tennis team opened its 2004 fall campaign against stiff Southeastern Conference talent, managing to advance two to the semifinals in two of three singles’ flights in the Ole Miss Fall Classic at Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center. Freshman Tamar Kvaratskhelia won two matches in the White draw and senior Judith Diaz won her only singles match in the Red draw on Friday.

Kvaratskhelia, playing in her first collegiate event, won her first match over Maja Russinova of Tennessee Tech, 6-1, 6-2. The Tbilisi, Georgia native, continued her strong play in her quarterfinal match against Catlin Cochran of Ole Miss, winning 6-3, 6-2. Kvaratskhelia also advanced to the semifinals in the White draw of doubles play. Kvaratskhelia and playing partner, junior Aveen Alkhatib, defeated Noelia Leon and Daliny Sithimorada of Louisiana-Monroe, 8-4 to begin the day. The pair will take on Margot Carter and Kay Ngiam of Tennessee Tech for the chance to play for a doubles title.

Diaz advanced in the singles Red draw with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Camelia Urdea of Louisiana-Monroe. Diaz will face Kim Lennartsson of Southern Mississippi in Saturday’s semifinal match. The Margarita Island, Venezuela native also advanced to the semifinals in the Blue draw of doubles play. The pair of Diaz and junior Jessica Simosa advanced by winning a tie break over Diana Espinal and Natalyia Ostovska of Lousiana-Monroe, 9-8 (4). The pair will face the tandem of Ilona Somers and Mimi Renaudin of host Ole Miss.

Two Wildcats fell in marathon three-set quarterfinal matches. Freshman Olga Klimova, also playing in her first collegiate event, dropped her quarterfinal matchup with Sarah Sabin of Ole Miss in two hours and 45 minutes, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6. Klimova advanced to the quarters with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Nikhila Narra of Southern Mississippi. In a three hour singles Blue draw, Simosa fell to Somers of Ole Miss, 6-7, 7-5, 6-2. Simosa reached the second round with a 7-6, 6-1 win over Ostovska of Louisiana-Monroe.

Senior Maria Rosenberg, who defeated Marina Tasheva of Tennessee Tech, 6-1, 6-2 in her opening singles match in the Blue draw, was defeated in her quarterfinal match against Nika Koukhartchouk of Ole Miss, 7-5, 7-5.

The Wildcats will have two doubles teams in action on Saturday and two semifinal singles matches at Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center, beginning at 8:00 a.m.