SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- With her two wins Friday, Cape Girardeau Central High's Eliane Hess stands two victories from the Missouri Class 4A state singles tennis title. But a daunting obstacle looms in her path.

Hess will meet Parkway Central's Aleke Tsoubanos, the defending state champion, this morning at 9 in a semifinal match.

"She (Eliane) hasn't faced her," said Central coach Annette Slattery, "so we really don't know. We're just hoping for the best."

Hess, an exchange student from Switzerland, blanked Blue Springs' Brooke Williams 6-0, 6-0 before edging Ladue's Annie Goodrich 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Central's doubles team of Lara Golike and Liz Russell will compete for the consolation title today. The pair lost to Columbia-Rock Bridge's Kelcie Dix and Elly Swetz 6-4, 5-7, 2-6. They followed the setback with wins over Park Hill's Robin Tittman and Doddie Stiegler, 6-1, 6-3, and Parkway Central's Katie Harris and Janie Saltman, 7-6 (10-8), 6-1.