Fifth Ranked Miami Falls to No. 14 Georgia Tech in 4-3 Heartbreaker
March 31, 2006
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla.– Third ranked Audra Cohen upset her second No. 1 ranked opponent of the season but could not lift the fifth ranked Hurricanes who fell to No. 14 Georgia Tech in a 4-3 heartbreaker at the NeilSchiffTennisCenter Friday afternoon.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Cohen downed top ranked Kristi Miller in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 1 singles position to improve to 21-0 on the season. In February, Cohen upended then No. 1 Diana Serbrovic of Florida in straight sets. The Miami sophomore is now 13-0 against nationally ranked opponents.
The match was a battle of the Atlantic Coast Conference unbeatens as both teams held a perfect mark in league play. The loss snapped Miami’s 11-match win streak and dropped its record to 14-4 overall and 6-1 in the ACC. Georgia Tech improved to 15-3 overall and 6-0 in the ACC with the win.
As been the case for most of the season, the Hurricanes opened the match by claiming the doubles point. 10th ranked Cohen and Melissa Applebaum topped the Yellow Jackets’ 12th ranked Kristi Miller/Lyndsay Shosho pair 8-1 at the No. 1 position. Not long after, UM’s 45th ranked tandem of Audrey Banada and Monika Dancevic defeated Whitney McCray and Kelly Anderson 8-3 at the No. 2 slot to clinch the doubles point. In court No. 3, Caren Seenauth and Patricia Starzyk rallied to upend Georgia Tech’s Kacie Anson/Alison Silverio pair, 8-7 (7-4), to give Miami its 13 doubles sweep of the season.
After claiming the doubles point and winning at the No. 1 position, the Hurricanes took a 2-0 match lead. Georgia Tech got on the board with a win at No. 4 singles before Applebaum, ranked No. 102 downed No. 105 Tarryn Rudman 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) at the No. 3 position to give the Hurricanes a 3-1 match lead.
Georgia Tech, however, won the final two matches at courts No. 2 and No. 6 to claim the 4-3 upset.
The Hurricanes continue their home-stand Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. when they host No. 24 Clemson. Admission to the NeilSchiffTennisCenter is FREE.
