Third-Seeded Bradley/Banada Duo Advance to Quarterfinals
May 25, 2005
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>ATHENS, Ga. – Miami’s third-seeded doubles duo of senior Megan Bradley and sophomore Audrey Banada claimed a 7-6 (11), 6-4 victory over Florida’s Jennifer Magley and Zerene Reyes to advance to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Doubles Championship held at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of Georgia Wednesday afternoon.
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Both teams took part in a back and forth battle that turned out to be the final match of the day. In the first set, UF’s ninth ranked pair held a slight 3-2 advantage before the Hurricanes matched the Gators game for game to bring the score to a four-all tie. Zerene and Reyes were then one game away from claiming the set before Miami’s tandem tied the score at five-all. The Gators once again took the lead, but could not hold off the spirited Hurricanes who won the next game to force the tie-breaker. Miami eventually won the first set 7-6 (11).
The Gators struck first in the second set, jumping to a 2-1 lead but Miami tangled up the score at two-all and then again at three-all. The Hurricanes would not trail again as they ran away with the set, 6-4, and the match.
Miami advances a doubles tandem to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since Paula Iverson and Mariette Verbruggen advanced in the 1992 NCAA Tournament.
With the win, Bradley and Banada improve to 27-2 overall, while extending their win-streak to nine matches. Magley and Reyes close the season with a 24-7 overall record.
Miami’s win also marks the second time the Hurricanes have defeated Florida’s pair. Bradley and Banada downed Magley and Reyes, 8-2, on September 18, 2004 at the Gator Fall Classic.
The Hurricanes will now face TCU’s 29th ranked Ana Cetnik and Stony Tweedle-Yates. The tandem reached the quarterfinals after upsetting Notre Dame’s Catrina and Christian Thompson, who were a 5-8 seed earlier in the day. Doubles action begins at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.
NCAA Women’s Tennis Doubles Championship – Round of 16
(3) Megan Bradley/Audrey Banada (Miami) def. (9) Jennifer Magley/Zerene Reyes (Florida), 7-6(11), 6-4
