Yaroshuk-Tews Adds Three New Players to the Women's Tennis Roster

Sept. 11, 2006

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com)- University of Miami head women’s tennis coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews announced today the addition of three players to the Hurricanes’ roster for the 2006-07 season.

Joining the Hurricanes will be Clemson transfer Romy Farah (Colombia), Boston University transfer Gina Sabatino (Waltham, Mass.), and freshman Laura Vallverdu (Spain) adding depth to an already strong squad that reached the NCAA finals last season.

During her freshman year at Clemson in 2005, Farah finished the season with a 25-13 overall record at No. 2 singles, ending the year ranked No.58 in the country, and helping lead the Tigers to the NCAA Final Four.

Prior to playing for the Tigers, Farah ranked No.2 in South America and was the Colombia Junior National Champion in the under-12, 14, 16, and 18 divisions. She played in several International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments in 2002, and ranked No. 55 in the world in the juniors division. Farah, who spent last season at Broward Community College, has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Sabatino played two seasons at Boston University finishing her sophomore year with an 11-12 overall record at No. 1 and 2 singles. As a freshman she finished with a 21-10 record at No. 1, 2 and 3 singles earning America East Rookie of the Year honors. She was named First Team All-Conference at No.2 singles and earned a spot on the America East All-Championship team.

Vallverdu, who qualified for the Orange Bowl under-16 final in 2003, has recorded career-high WTA rankings of 566 in singles and 493 in doubles. She has won two ITF circuits doubles titles and in 2005 defeated Jelena Dokic, the former fourth-ranked player in the world, in the qualifying singles draw of the ITF circuit event in Petang, Luxembourg.