No. 24 Women's Tennis Beats No. 39 Purdue In NCAA Regionals

May 9, 2003

CORAL GABLES, Fla.-No. 24 Miami women’s tennis defeated No. 39 Purdue 4-1 in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tennis Championship Friday afternoon at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex in Lexington, Ky.

The Hurricanes (17-6) advance to face No. 12 Kentucky (22-7) Saturday at 3 p.m. in Lexington.

Miami leads the all-time series with UK 4-2.

Miami took an early 1-0 lead after the doubles tandem of Staci Stevens and Mari Toro defeated Purdue’s Gretchen Haynor and Melissa Iqbal, 8-3, on court No. 3.

No. 21-ranked Melissa Applebaum and Megan Bradley blew by Purdue’s Melissa Woods and Lara Buragarello, 8-0, on court one to put Stevens and Toro in position to secure the doubles point.

In singles action, 79th-ranked Megan Bradley defeated Haynor in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, on court No.1.

Stevens overcame a three-game deficit in the second set of her No. 4 singles match with Zuccarini to take a 6-3, 6-4 straight-sets victory.

Sihem Bennacer clinched the victory for the Hurricanes with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Missy Wright.

#24 Miami 4, #39 Purdue 1
Doubles
1. #21 Melissa Applebaum/Megan Bradley (UM) def. Melissa Woods/Lara Burgarello (PU) 8-0
2. Igna deVilliers/Abby Smith (UM) vs. Missy Wright/Shawna Zuccarini (PU) susp. (6-3 Purdue up)
3. Staci Stevens/Mari Toro (UM) def. Gretchen Haynor/Melissa Iqbal (PU) 8-3
Singles
1. #79 Megan Bradley (UM) def. Gretchen Haynor (PU) 6-1, 6-1
2. #58 Melissa Applebaum (UM) vs. Amy Walgenbach (PU) susp. (6-4, 1-2 Purdue up)
3. Mari Toro (UM) vs. Melissa Iqbal (PU) susp. (6-4, 1-4 Miami up)
4. Staci Stevens (UM) def. Shawna Zuccarini (PU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Sihem Bennacer (UM) def. Missy Wright (PU) 6-2, 7-5
6. Lara Burgarello (PU) def. Sara Robbins (UM) 6-3, 6-1