Miami Set To Host The BIG EAST Tennis Championships
April 15, 2002
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CORAL GABLES, Fla.-The University of Miami will host the 2002 BIG EAST Tennis Championships April 19-21 at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on the UM campus.
This season marks the second year the league has used a selection process to select and seed six men’s and six women’s teams to compete at the championships.
The winners receive the league’s automatic bids to the NCAA Championships.
The UM men’s team seeded No. 3 will look to defend its BIG EAST title as they play West Virginia Friday at Noon, while the women seeded No. 2 get a first round bye and will play the winner of the Virginia Tech/Rutgers match Saturday at Noon.
Admission is free.
MEN’S PREVIEW No. 1 seed Notre Dame currently sits at No. 7 in the latest Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis rankings (April 10) and has been ranked in the top 10 all season. Senior Javier Taborga stepped into the No. 1 singles spot this year, posting a 17-4 dual match record while earning himself a No. 18 national ranking. Taborga and partner Casey Smith are ranked fourth nationally in doubles, which is the highest ranking of any pair in the league.
Virginia Tech, seeded second, placed third last year in its first season in the league. This season, the Hokies are ranked 30th nationally, winning 10 of their last 12 matches. Defending champion Miami is seeded third and ranked No. 43. The Hurricanes are led by freshman Todd Widom, the top-ranked individual in the conference at No. 16.
No. 4 seed Boston College compiled a 6-0 record versus BIG EAST opponents, despite having only one senior and one junior on the roster. Rutgers is the fifth seed and is led by junior Maarten Vissers and senior Takashi Zetsu at the No. 1 and 2 spots, respectively. West Virginia, the sixth seed, has received top performances by senior transfer Adam Marchetti (11-5 record at No. 1 singles) and freshman Eric Kochanski (9-3).
WOMEN’S PREVIEW No. 1 seed Notre Dame and No. 2 seed Miami figure to battle for the women’s title with both squads ranked in the top 40 nationally (25th and 38th, respectively). The Irish pulled out the 4-3 victory when the two teams met on April 7, but the Hurricanes have posted an 8-0 record this season on their home court. Notre Dame is led by No. 86 Becky Varnum, while No. 66 Mari Toro paces Miami. The Irish duo of Varnum and Lindsey Green is ranked 33rd nationally in doubles.
Kristen Stubbs has posted an 11-8 record in dual matches for third-seeded Virginia Tech. The Hokies own a 14-8 record. No. 4 seed Boston College compiled a 5-1 record against BIG EAST opponents behind a 6-0 conference mark from freshman Amy Molden.
Juniors Masha Kabanova and Shervin Saedinia have led fifth-seeded Syracuse to a 4-2 record versus league opponents. Rutgers, the sixth seed, has a 14-8 overall record and an 8-3 mark in conference play behind the leadership of lone senior Amanda Travlos.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday, April 19
9 a.m.
Women – Match 1
No. 4 Boston College vs. No. 5 Syracuse
Men – Match 1
No. 4 Boston College vs. No. 5 Rutgers
Noon
Women – Match 2
No. 3 Virginia Tech vs. No. 6 Rutgers
Men – Match 2
No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 West Virginia
Saturday, April 20
9 a.m.
Women – Match 3
No. 1 Notre Dame vs. Winner Match 1
Men – Match 3
No. 1 Notre Dame vs. Winner Match 1
Noon
Women – Match 4
No. 2 Miami vs. Winner Match 2
Men – Match 4
No. 2 Virginia Tech vs. Winner Match 2
3 p.m.
Women – Match 5
Loser Match 1 vs. Loser Match 2
Men – Match 5
Loser Match 1 vs. Loser Match 2
Sunday, April 21
9 a.m.
Women – Championship Match
Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4
Women – Match 6
Loser Match 3 vs. Loser Match 4
Noon
Men – Championship Match
Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4
Men – Match 6
Loser Match 3 vs. Loser Match 4
