No. 37 Women's Tennis Defeats Barry

Jan. 26, 2002

Coral Gables, FL (hurricanesports.com) – Sophomores Sara Robbins (Tucson, AZ) and Sihem Bennacer (Algiers, Algeria) were both double winners on Saturday to lead the 37th-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team to a 5-2 win over Barry University at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, FL.

The Hurricanes improve to 2-0 on the season while Barry falls to 0-1.

Robbins and Bennacer teamed up at No. 3 doubles to defeat Bojana Miladinovic and Valeria Papandrea, 8-0, and help the Hurricanes secured the doubles point. Robbins and Bennacer are undefeated as a doubles tandem in dual match competition this season.

Following the doubles competition, Bennacer improved to 2-0 in dual match singles play with a thrilling, 5-7, 6-1, 7-5, win over Maria Lopez at No. 3 singles. Robbins also remained undefeated in dual match singles competition with an easy 6-2, 6-2, win over Ewa Kleczek at No. 5 singles.

Other Hurricanes recording singles victories included freshman Jessica Pelto (Longwood, CA) who defeated Papandrea, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (1), 6-1, at No. 6 singles, and newcomer Ewelina Skaza who knocked off Miladinovic, 7-5, 6-3, at No. 4 singles.

The Hurricanes return to action on February 2 at 10:00 a.m. when they face No. 25 South Alabama at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, FL.

Singles1.  Victoria Courmes (B) def. Marcy Hora (UM) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (6)2.  Gizella Turbok (B) def. Staci Stevens (UM) 6-3, 6-33.  Sihem Bennacer (UM) def. Maria Lopez (B) 5-7, 6-1, 7-54.  Ewelina Skaza (UM) def. Bojana Miladinovic (B) 7-5, 6-35.  Sara Robbins (UM) def. Ewa Kleczek (B) 6-2, 6-26.  Jessica Pelto (UM) def. Valeria Papandrea (B) 7-6 (5), 6-7 (1), 6-1

Doubles1. Courmes/Lopez (B) def. Hora/Stevens (UM) 9-8 (9)2. Smith/de Villiers (UM) def. Kleczek/Turbok (B) 8-43. Robbins/Bennacer (UM) def. Miladinovic/Papandrea 8-0