Hurricanes Upset No. 4 UCLA at National Team Indoors
Feb. 3, 2005
MADISON, Wis. – Sophomore Audrey Banada clinched a 4-3 victory over third-seeded UCLA as the Hurricanes (2-0) reach the quarterfinals of USTA/ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championships for the first time since 1988, Thursday evening at the University of Wisconsin’s A.C. Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
With the win the Hurricanes avenge their NCAA quarterfinal loss to the Bruins last May and hand them their first loss of the season. UCLA’s (3-1) loss also marked the first loss by a No. 3 seed in the first round of National Team Indoor Championship.
Banada, who clinched last year’s second round NCAA upset win over Florida, defeated UCLA’s Sarah Gregg 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the No. 4 singles to break a 3-3 tie.
Second ranked senior Megan Bradley took the first singles point after Daniela Bercek was forced to retire with the score 3-0 in the first set in No. 1 singles.
Junior Melissa Applebaum upended Alex McGoodwin (122) 7-6(1), 6-3 in the No. 3 singles spot while freshman Patricia Starzyk picked up her second collegiate victory after defeating Tracey Lin 6-3, 6-4 in No. 5 singles.
Miami’s eighth-ranked doubles tandem of Bradley and Banada downed UCLA’s fifth ranked Bercek/Reza Zalameda duo 8-4 in No. 1 doubles. UCLA, however, went on to win the doubles point.
“Audrey (Banada) played incredible, “said head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. “She came up big at the right time in the match. She worked hard to develop the points and was aggressive and she took the match from her, which is what she does well”
“Coming into the tournament, we have so many new kids; it feels like a new team. But we do have a lot of momentum (from last season) and a lot of fire. They’re just workers.”
The Hurricanes became one of three squads to upset a higher seeded team in the first day of competition. No. 2 Clemson, No. 4 Northwestern and No. 7 Tulane, were all upset.
Miami will now face Atlantic Coast Conference rival and No. 6 ranked Duke in Friday’s 3:00 p.m. (CST) quarterfinal round. The Blue Devils defeated No. 7 Texas A&M 5-2 in the first round.
