The stage was set. Junior Bea Bielik was back in Head Coach Brian Fleishman's arsenal, the championship match loomed in the background and the baby blue and white colors that opponents have so strongly despised were all that remained in the Deacs' way. However, in what was billed a grudge match, the women's tennis team fell to North Carolina 4-1 in the semifinals of the ACC tournament April 20. Without the services of Bielik, the team came together to whitewash Virginia 4-0 April 19, pitting them against the Tar Heels in the semifinals. With their loss, the Deacs fall to 21-5 and must await a bid for the NCAA tournament.

"We are just suffering from a mental block right now," Fleishman said. "We play great against the teams we are supposed to beat and during practice, but we don't play relaxed against the teams with the big names and reputations."

Out of the Deacs' five losses this season, all of have come against top 10 teams. As Fleishman pointed out, their talent is not the question, but apparently their mental toughness is.

"From a coaching standpoint there are things you can teach and things you can't," Fleishman said. "Mental toughness is one of those things these girls are going to have to learn on their own."

North Carolina won the doubles point with victories from No. 2 Kendall Cline and Aniela Mojzis as well as at No. 3 from Kate Pinchbeck and Lee Bairos. The singles matches were not much different as the Deacs' lone victory came in the No. 1 slot with Bielik defeating defeated Marlene Mejia 6-3, 6-0.

"I wanted to win the tournament," coach Fleishman said. "It was a disappointing weekend in that I still feel we are the better team, the more talented team and that UNC just wanted it more."

The Deacs defeated Virginia to advance into a match with North Carolina. They handed the Cavs a 4-0 loss without the services of Bielik. The match began at the Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center in Raleigh, but after a two-hour rain delay was moved to Duke University's Indoor Tennis Center in Durham.

"It is always tough to have your No. 1 player sitting out," said Fleishman. "The other girls really stepped up and performed when they needed to."

The Deacs took the doubles point with victories from No. 2 Coetzee and Smith as well as at No. 3 from Martzolf and Schwartz. In singles play, the Deacs picked up wins at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6 singles.