PALO ALTO, Calif. - Ninth-ranked Stanford won five singles matches and added the doubles point to down No. 59 UNC Wilmington, 6-1, in an opening round match of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Kick-Off Weekend Friday at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium.

      The Cardinal improved to 2-0 overall and face No. 45 Oklahoma on Saturday for the right to advance to the National Team Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va. The Seahawks, 1-1, will battle San Diego State at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

      "The first step in beating a top 10 team is getting a look at one," said third-year UNCW coach Mait DuBois. "You can't put a value on this type of experience. We're a better team after a good, tough match like this. Give credit to Stanford - they played well today and are a talented team."

      UNCW's lone win on the day came at No. 4 singles, where newcomer Kosta Blank outlasted Stanford's Matt Kandath, 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7).

      "I was very proud of Kosta," DuBois added. "It was only his second college match. To get a victory over a very good player should be a real confidence builder for him."