13th Ranked Hurricanes Host Blue Devils to Close Regular Season
April 14, 2006
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla.– The 13th ranked Miami women’s tennis team will close out the regular season by hosting seventh ranked Duke Sunday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m. Admission to the Neil Schiff Tennis Center is free. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Sunday’s match will also mark the final regular season home match for the Hurricanes’ lone senior Melissa Applebaum. Applebaum, who is fourth all-time in doubles with a 95-52 career record, is only two wins away from moving into sole possession of second all-time behind former great Lise Gregory.
Miami looks to bounce back from a 4-3 upset loss to No. 29 Virginia last Saturday. The Hurricanes fell to 16-5 overall but remain second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with an 8-2 mark in league play.
Miami is second to Duke who is 8-1 in the ACC and 15-5 overall. The Blue Devils will play at No. 65 Florida State Friday before traveling south to Coral Gables.
The Hurricanes, who have been ranked as high as fifth this season, fell to 13th in the latest Fila Collegiate Tennis Rankings. The Atlantic Coast Conference continues to lead the way nationally, with seven ACC schools ranked among the Top 25. The ACC is led by No. 7 Duke and followed by No. 10 North Carolina, No. 12 Georgia Tech, No. 13 Miami, No. 16 Wake Forest, No. 21 Clemson, and No. 25 Virginia.
Sophomore Audra Cohen leads the way for the Hurricanes as the nation’s second ranked player. Cohen has won 24 consecutive matches, marking the longest win streak of her career. 14 of those wins have come against ranked opponents.
Also ranked for the Hurricanes are No. 63 Applebaum, No. 112 Monika Dancevic and No. 123 Audrey Banada.
Miami continues to dominate in doubles having won the doubles point in 19 of its 21 matches this season. Applebaum and Cohen pair up as the nation’s fifth ranked doubles duo. The pair has won 15-straight matches including nine against ranked opponents.
The Blue Devils, who hold the top spot in the ACC for the first time this season, boasts five ranked players and one ranked doubles team in their lineup. Miami’s Cohen will square-off against sixth ranked Daniela Bercek–Cohen’s fifth Top 25 opponent this spring. Also ranked is No. 29 Jackie Carlton, No. 70 Tara Iyer, No. 103 Celia Deltour and No. 109 Melissa Mang. Duke’s Bercek and Jessi Robinson pair-up to comprise the nation’s 17th ranked doubles team.
The Hurricanes faced the Blue Devils on three occasions last season with Duke claiming the first meeting 4-3 at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. Miami bounced back by claiming the next two meetings– a 4-3 decision in Durham during the regular season and a 4-1 victory in the ACC Tournament. Duke leads the all-time series 7-5.
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