"I think our team is more balanced from one to six," Penn Coach Cissie Leary said. "I think we're a little tougher from four to six [than most teams]."

Minkus filled in for freshman standout Rachel Pollock-who earlier defeated 9th-ranked Pepperdine's Anna Lefebvre 6-0, 6-0--who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

"[Minkus] has all the shots. It's a matter of solidifying the package," said Krass, referring to his sophomore who has suffered through a 3-15 season since the fall.

The Crimson's Rival defeated Hyacinthe in fifth singles to provide the final margin of victory.

THE NOTEBOOK: The Crimson hosts Columbia today at noon at the Beren Tennis Center... "We're playing a lot better since Ed got his haircut," said Andrea Krass, wife of the Crimson's coach. Crimson, 7-2 at Palmer Dixon Tennis Center

Singles Matches

1. Cristina Dragomirescu (H) d. Andrea Askowitz (P), 6-2, 6-0; 2. Amy deLone (H) d. Alana Rishberg (P), 6-1, 7-6; 3. Jamie Henikoff (H) d. Monica Goldberg (P), 6-2, 6-1; 4. Meredith Strehn (P) d. Jen Minkus (H), 7-6, 7-5; 5. Nikki Rival (H) d. Genevieve Hacinthe (P), 6-4, 6-1; 6. Chris Gardner (P) d. Melinda Wang (H), 7-6, 4-6, 6-3.

Doubles Matches

1. deLone/Henikoff (H) d. Gardner/Candace Worth (P), 6-0, 6-0; 2. Minkus/Dragomirescu (H) d. Hacinthe/Goldbert (P), 6-4, 6-0; 3. Erica Elmuts/Rival (H) d. Lisa Adelman/Askowitz (P), 6-3, 6-2.