No. 16 Hurricanes Lose Heartbreaker To No. 12 UCLA, 4-3

No. 16 Hurricanes Lose Heartbreaker To No. 12 UCLA, 4-3

March 17, 2004

LOS ANGELES – The No. 16-ranked Miami women’s tennis team lost its second match of the 2004 season, falling 4-3 in a hard fought match at No. 12 UCLA Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles, Calif.

The Hurricanes fall to 9-2 overall, while UCLA improves to 10-5.

The Bruins took the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. The No. 44-ranked doubles duo Melissa Applebaum (Coral Gables, Fla.) and Megan Bradley (Columbia, Mo.) upset No. 23-ranked Jackie Carleton and Feriel Esseghir 9-7 at No. 1 doubles.

Miami tied the match one-all as freshman Audrey Banada improved her individual record to 11-0 on the season with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Lauren Fisher at No. 5 singles.

UCLA jumped ahead 2-1 with a victory at No. 6 singles, Miami then posted back-to-back victories to take a 3-2 lead.

At court No. 2 Applebaum fought for a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win over Esseghir, while No. 9-ranked Bradley battled back for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over 28th-ranked Carleton at No. 1 singles.

Two matches still remained on court and Miami needed just one to pull out the victory.Next to finish was court No. 3, where 40th-ranked Daniela Bercek overcame Mari Toro, 6-3, 6-4.

The match was clinched at court No. 4, where Bruin junior Sarah Gregg defeated Staci Stevens, 6-3, 7-6(4).

The Hurricanes return to action Thursday facing No. 31 Pepperdine at 4:30 p.m. EST in Los Angeles, Calif.

No. 12 UCLA 4, No. 16 Miami 3
Singles

1. (9) Megan Bradley (UM) def. (28) Jackie Carleton (UCLA) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
2. Melissa Applebaum (UM) def. Feriel Esseghir (UCLA) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
3. (40) Daniela Bercek (UCLA) def. Mari Toro (UM) 6-3, 6-4
4. Sarah Gregg (UCLA) def. Staci Stevens (UM) 6-3, 7-6(4)*
5. Audrey Banada (UM) def. Lauren Fisher (UCLA) 6-2, 6-1
6. Laura Gordon (UCLA) def. Sihem Bennacer (UM) 6-3, 6-3
* Denotes Clinching Match — Singles Order of Finish: 5, 6, 2, 1, 3, 4

Doubles
1. (44) Applebaum/Bradley (UM) def. (23) Carleton/Esseghir (UCLA) 9-7
2. Fisher/Gordon (UCLA) def. Bennacer/Robbins (UM) 8-5
3. Bercek/Gregg (UCLA) def. Banada/Toro (UM) 8-3