Fifth Ranked Miami Tops No. 24 Clemson in ACC Action
April 2, 2006
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. –The fifth ranked Miami women’s tennis team got back on the winning track by cruising to a 6-1 victory over No. 24 Clemson in Atlantic Coast Conference action at the NeilSchiffTennisCenter Sunday afternoon. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Miami, who had its 11-match win streak cut short with a loss on Friday, rebounded by winning five-of-six singles matches to improve to 15-4 overall and 7-1 in ACC play. The Hurricanes handed the Tigers (12-5, 5-2 ACC) their first loss in eight matches.
Sophomore Audra Cohen, ranked third in the country, won her 22nd consecutive match when she downed Daniela Alvarez 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.
Senior Melissa Applebaum, ranked No. 102, picked up her second victory over a ranked opponent this weekend when she upset No. 45 Federica van Adrichem with a 6-2, 6-2 straight-set victory at the No. 3 position to give Miami a 3-0 advantage.
Sophomore Patricia Starzyk then clinched the match at court No. 4 with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 win over No. 113 Maria Brito.
Junior Audrey Banada and sophomore Caren Seenauth also claimed singles victories. Banada, ranked 83rd nationally, topped Alexandra Luc, 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 5 slot before Seenauth defeated Kathi Gerber 6-0, 6-3 at the No. 6 position.
The Hurricanes opened the match by claiming the doubles point with wins on courts No. 1 and No. 3. Miami’s 10th ranked Applebaum/Cohen pair upended Clemson’s ninth ranked tandem of van Adrichem and Carol Salge 8-5 at the No. 1 position. Seenauth and Starzyk then downed Brito and Kathi Gerber 8-4 at the No. 3 slot to give Miami a 1-0 lead heading into singles play. The Hurricanes have now won the doubles point in 17 of their 19 matches.
Miami returns to action with a noon match-up against ACC rival Virginia Tech Saturday, April 8.
