Hurricanes Face Pair of In-State Rivals This Weekend
Feb. 9, 2006
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla.– The 13th ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team will face a pair of in-state rivals this weekend. Miami will travel cross-town to face No. 26 Florida International Friday, Feb. 10 at noon before hosting No. 2 Florida Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1:00 p.m. at the NeilSchiffTennisCenter.
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The Hurricanes (2-2) return to action after reaching the quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships for the second consecutive season. Miami defeated No. 52 Wisconsin, 5-2, before falling to then No. 15 Texas, 4-3, in the quarterfinals. The Hurricanes fell to then No. 18 Cal, 4-3, in the quarterfinal consolation.
During the tournament both sophomore Audra Cohen and freshman Monika Dancevic compiled a 3-0 record in singles play. Cohen defeated three ranked opponents at the No. 1 position, including Cal’s No. 19 Suzi Fodor, all in straight sets to improve to 7-0 overall. Dancevic, playing in the No. 5 slot, improved to 4-0 in dual play with a win against Cal’s No. 83 Claire Ilcinkas. In her first three matches, including a win against FAU, Dancevic gave up only two games.
FIU opened the season with a 7-0 sweep over Jacksonville on Feb. 5 and moved up to 26th in the latest Fila Collegiate rankings. The Golden Panthers’ Paula Zabala/Nikkita Fountain doubles duo is ranked No. 24 in the nation.
The Hurricanes lead the all-time series against the Golden Panthers, 16-1. Miami faced players from FIU at the FIU Spring Classic at the start of the spring season. Last season UM swept FIU, 7-0, in Coral Gables.
Florida heads into Coral Gables with a 3-0 record after sweeping both UCF and Furman and downing South Florida, 4-1, to start the season. The Gators, ranked No. 2 in the latest Fila Collegiate Rankings, boast a roster with five ranked players including the nation’s No. 1 player, Diana Srebrovic who is 20-3 overall. UF also has two doubles teams ranked in the Fila Rankings, including Nina Suvak and Whitney Benik who are ranked No. 25.
The Gators hold a 31-22 advantage in the all-time series against the Hurricanes. The match on Sunday will mark the first meeting between the schools since Miami upset then No. 1 Florida, 4-3, in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The win marked the Hurricanes’ first victory over the Gators since 1986. The loss snapped UF’s 40-match win streak and 32-match run at home.
Admission to Sunday’s match at the NeilSchiffTennisCenter is free.
