Miami Downs Virginia, 5-2, In Women's Tennis
March 7, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The No. 22-ranked Miami women’s tennis team defeated No. 39 Virginia by an 5-2 score Friday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. The Hurricanes improved to 8-2 on the season winning their fourth consecutive match. The Cavaliers fell to 7-4 overall.
The Hurricanes overcame the Cavs by winning five of six singles matches after Virginia won the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Melissa Applebaum (Coral Gables, Fla.) teamed up with Sara Robbins (Tucson, Ariz.) to beat Dora Bechliwanis and Marta Bechliwanis, 8-0, for Miami’s only doubles victory.
Miami quickly established dominance in singles action. At No. 1 singles, No. 87 ranked Megan Bradley (Columbia, Mo.) knocked off Henriette Williams 6-3, 6-7 (1), and 6-2. Applebaum, ranked No. 77 nationally, took the only singles setback for UM with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 decision to Jennifer Tuchband. At No. 3 singles, 94th-ranked Mari Toro (Miami, Fla.) defeated Lori Stern (6-4, 6-2) for the Hurricanes and UM’s Sihem Bennacer (Algiers, Algeria) dispatched Kristen James by a 6-1, 6-2 count. Miami’s Staci Stevens (Hammond, La.) defeated Marta Bechliwanis at No. 5 singles, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, and UM’s Sara Robbins knocked off Dora Bechliwanis at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 6-4.
The Hurricanes are back in action Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. when they host Boston University at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables.
No. 22 Miami 5, No. 39 Virginia 2Singles1. Megan Bradley (UM) def. Henriette Williams (UVA) 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-22. Jennifer Tuchband (UVA) def. Melissa Applebaum (UM) 5-7, 6-4, 7-53. Mari Toro (UM) def. Lori Stern (UVA) 6-4, 6-24. Sihem Bennacer (UM) def. Kristen James (UVA) 6-1, 6-25. Staci Stevens (UM) def. Marta Bechliwanis (UVA) 6-3, 2-6, 6-46. Sara Robbins (UM) def. Dora Bechliwanis (UVA) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles1. Henriette Williams/Jennifer Tuchband (UVA) def. Igna DeVilliers/Abby Smith (UM) 8-42. Lori Stern/Kristen James (UVA) def. Mari Toro/Megan Bradley (UM) 9-8 (4)3. Melissa Applebaum/Sara Robbins (UM) def. Dora Bechliwanis/Marta Bechliwanis 8-0
