Hurricanes Fall to UCLA, 4-3 at NCAA Quarterfinals
May 21, 2004
ATHENS, Ga. – The 23rd-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team could not hold off ninth-seeded UCLA Friday afternoon, falling to the Bruins (19-7), 4-3, in the quarterfinals of the 2004 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships in Athens, Ga.
With the loss, the Hurricanes conclude 2004 season with an overall record of 20-4, the first 20-plus win season for Miami since 1999 (20-10) and the most under fourth-year head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews.
The Hurricanes took the double point to open the match, behind teammates Melissa Applebaum (Coral Gables, Fla.) and Megan Bradley (Columbia, Mo.) – ranked 30th nationally in doubles – win over Daniela Bercek and Lauren Fisher (8-6) in the No. 1 spot and UM’s duo of Audrey Banada (North Miami Beach, Fla.) and Mari Toro (Miami, Fla.) downing Laura Gordon and Sarah Gregg, 9-7 at the No. 3 position.
Trailing 1-0, the Bruins responded in singles play with Jackie Carleton upending Applebaum in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 2 position and Gordon overtaking Miami’s Sara Robbins (Tucson, Ariz.), 6-1, 6-2 at No. 6.
Banada won at No. 5, downing UCLA’s Fisher, 6-4, 7-6 and Toro held off Feriel Esseghir in the No. 3 slot to win 6-4, 6-1.
Gregg claimed a victory over UM’s Staci Stevens (Hammond, La.) in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 and No. 30 Bercek fought off No. 4 Bradley in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to clinch the UCLA win at 4-3.
UCLA 4, Miami 3
NCAA Quarterfinals
May 21, 2004
Athens, Ga.
Singles
1. (30) Applebaum/Bradley (UM) def. Bercek/Fisher (UCLA), 8-6
2. Robbins/Stevens (UM) vs. (43) Carleton/Esseghir (UCLA), 6-7 (DNF)
3. Banada/Toro (UM) def. Gordon/Gregg (UCLA), 9-7
Doubles
1. (31) Daniela Bercek (UCLA) def. (4) Megan Bradley (UM), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Jackie Carleton (UCLA) def. Melissa Applebaum (UM), 6-1, 6-1
3. Mari Toro (UM) def. Feriel Esseghir (UCLA), 6-4, 6-1
4. Sarah Gregg (UCLA) def. Staci Stevens (UM), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Audrey Banada (UM) def. Lauren Fisher (UCLA), 6-4, 7-6
6. Laura Gordon (UCLA) def. Sara Robbins (UM), 6-1, 6-2
