Men's Tennis Climbs Into the Top 10
Jan. 30, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After a pair of commanding 6-1 dual match victories to open the 2007 season, the University of Miami men’s tennis team moved up one position to No. 10 in the latest Fila collegiate tennis rankings, administered by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and released today.
The Hurricanes, who were ranked as high as No. 8 last season, are the highest ranked team in Florida and are among three ACC teams in the top 10. Six ACC schools are ranked in the top 25, while eight of the 12 league programs are among the nation’s top 30.
“It’s early in the year, but it’s important for both our returning and new players to be recognized,” said third-year head coach Mario Rincon. “We want to continue to build from being in the top 10, and hopefully achieve great things like last year.”
Last year, the Hurricanes finished 20-5 overall and earned a share of the ACC regular season title with a 9-2 conference mark, advancing into the NCAA Tournament’s round of 16.
Senior All-American Luigi D’Agord (Freeport, Bahamas), the 2006 ACC Player of the Year, is back on the court and remains undefeated at 5-0 in the No. 1 singles spot, including a 3-0 mark versus ranked opponents. Paired with Josh Cohen (Weston, Fla./Laurel Springs), the seniors are a perfect 4-0 in top-flight doubles competition.
While sophomore All-American Daniel Vallverdu (Valencia, Venezuela), the 2006 ACC Freshman of the Year, is 3-0 at the No. 3 position, the Hurricanes have also relied upon a talented crop of newcomers this season. Freshman Hector Nieto (Key Biscayne, Fla./Coral Gables) has paired with Vallverdu in the No. 2 doubles position, and has also been successful in singles, winning his first two matches at No. 4.
Freshman Barnabas Carrega (Basiglio, Italay) is 1-1 at the No. 5 singles position, and is 2-0 at No. 3 doubles with freshman J.C. Whitner (Bradenton, Fla./Pendleton).
The Hurricanes women’s program remains No. 5 in the latest women’s poll.
The No. 10 Miami men’s tennis team returns to competition at home on Sunday, Feb. 4, versus Wisconsin at 11 a.m. Admission to all regular-season matches at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center, located on the University of Miami’s campus, is free.
