Jan. 18, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla.-The No. 24-ranked Miami women’s tennis team opened the 2003 season with a 6-1 victory over visiting No. 45 Illinois Saturday night at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
The Hurricanes (1-0) extend their home-winning streak to 11 matches after winning all 10 home matches last season.
Illinois falls to 1-1 on the season.
The Hurricanes won the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spot.
Senior Igna deVilliers (Capetown, South Africa) and junior Abby Smith (Chicago, Ill.) put the Hurricanes up with a doubles win at the No. 3 spot over Brianna Knue and Leila Cehajic 8-4.
At No. 2 doubles junior Mari Toro (Miami, Fla.) teamed up with sophomore Staci Stevens (Hammond, La.) to defeat Tiffany Eklov and Eldina Fazlic 8-5 to clinch the point for Miami.
Miami went on to take five-of-six singles matches in two sets to secure the win over the Fighting Illini.
Megan Bradley (Columbia, Mo.) had a strong showing in her first match at Miami. No. 2 Bradley beat No. 41 Jennifer McGaffigan 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 1 singles spot.
No. 57 Toro beat Ekloy 6-4, 7-6 (1) at the No. 2 position, while Stevens downed Fazlic 6-2, 7-5 at the No. 3 spot.
No. 92 Melissa Applebaum (Coral Gables, Fla.) won her first collegiate match in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 over Michelle Webb at No. 4.
Sara Robbins (Tuscon, Ariz.) beat Cehajic 6-4, 6-1 at the No. 6 spot.
The Hurricanes are back in action hosting FAU Friday, Jan. 31 at 4 p.m.
No. 24 Miami 6, No. 45 Illinois 1
Doubles
1. Jennifer McGaffigan/Michelle Webb (UI) def. Melissa Applebaum/Sara Robbins (UM) 8-3
2. Mari Toro/Staci Stevens (UM) def. Tiffany Eklov/Eldina Fazlic (UI) 8-5
3. Abby Smith/Igna deVilliers (UM) def. Brianna Knue/Leila Cehajic (UI) 8-4
Singles
1. Megan Bradley (UM) def. Jennifer McGaffigan (UI) 6-2, 6-3
2. Mari Toro (UM) def. Tiffany Eklov (UI) 6-4, 7-6 (1)
3. Staci Stevens (UM) def. Eldina Fazlic (UI) 6-2, 7-5
4. Melissa Applebaum (UM) def. Michelle Webb (UI) 6-2, 6-1
5. Brianna Knue (UI) def. Ewelina Sakza (UM) 6-4, 6-1
6. Sara Robbins (UM) def. Leila Cehajic (UI) 6-4, 6-1