The women's tennis team is looking to preserve its unbeaten dual match record when the it goes up against a formidable Syracuse squad at 1 tomorrow afternoon at the indoor courts.

The highlight of the match will be a clash of titans between the two number one seeds, Penn State's Kelly Erven and Syracuse's Kathy Bradford. The two players are both ranked among the Top 10 in the East.

"If people want to come out to watch the match, they're going to see some top-notch tennis," Syracuse head coach Jesse Dwyer said.

Bradford is coming off a year that saw her reach the NCAA Tournament. A senior now, she has been the top player on the Syracuse team since she was a freshman. She is currently ranked second in all-time career wins at Syracuse.

Erven, better recognized nationally as a doubles player with Claudia Karabedian, is also a strong singles player. She narrowly leads her lifetime series against Bradford, 3-2.

The Syracuse team is similar to the one that the Lady Lions defeated last spring.

"We're improved, but still young," Dwyer said. "There are two sophomores and three freshmen on the starting roster. Bradford is the only senior on the team and the only player that has a consistent place on the lineup (at No. 1 singles)."

Dwyer sees problems with such a young squad.

"They're youthful and enthusiastic, but sometimes I need to calm them down on the court so they keep their focus," he said.

Other individual matches will feature Karabedian against Christine Chiminello at the number two slot. Lisa Thomas, the Lions' No. 3 singles player, will face Corinna Bode, a native of West Germany.

Sherry Liberatore and Chiminello will take on Penn State's juggernaut number one doubles team of Karabedian and Erven. Despite the fact that Liberatore and Chiminello won the Big East championship last year, Dwyer said a win over the Lions' dynamic duo is unlikely."

"Erven and Karabedian are awfully strong,'' he said "They've been playing together for two years now and both are tremendous athletes. We're going to have to play way over our heads to beat them."

Dwyer is more optimistic about the whole team's chances.

"I see the match as being close," he said. "Whoever's playing their best tennis at the time is going to win."