Banada Sets All-Time Mark in Career Doubles and a New Career High in Singles Rankings
Feb. 21, 2007
Coral Gables, Fla. – University of Miami women’s tennis senior Audrey Banada has notched the No.1 spot as the all-time leader in career doubles with a record of 107-24. The senior has surpassed former Hurricane Melissa Applebaum, 107-34, for the top spot. The North Miami Beach native is ranked No. 26 in singles, a new career high, in the latest Fila Collegiate Tennis rankings that are administered by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), it was announced Tuesday.
Banada sealed the deal to capture the No. 1 spot after she and doubles partner junior Romy Farah posted an 8-4 defeat over No. 14 Nina Suvak and Whitney Benik of the No. 4 ranked Gators of Florida in the No. 1 position Sunday afternoon in Gainesville.
The Hurricanes duo was ranked No. 6 in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) at the start of the 2007 season, and has an 8-1 record in doubles so far on the dual season.
At the end of the 2006 fall season, then non-ranked Banada and Farah finished 15-3 including a 3-0 sweep at the Gator Fall Classic, and displayed a strong performance at the All-American Championships, defeating the likes of Texas, North Carolina, Stanford, and Duke, as well as Texas A&M duo then No. 10 Tiffany Clifford and Sarah Foster, 8-6.
During the 2005-2006 season, Banada finished 26-11 overall in doubles play. That year, she had been ranked as high as 43rd alongside Monika Dancevic finishing 15-7 overall and 15-6 at the No. 2 position.
Banada garnered her first and only All-American honor when she partnered with Megan Bradley during the 2004-2005 season. The duo reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA doubles championships seeded third in the tournament. Banada and Bradley was ranked as high as second and finished the year ranked sixth in the nation with a 27-3 mark overall, while Banada finished 36th in doubles with a 4-2 overall record with Melissa Applebaum.
As a freshman, Banada compiled a 28-4 overall record in doubles during the 2003-2004 season.
This season, Banada has earned her spot amongst the top-thirty singles players in the country, marking a new career high as the No. 26 player in the nation. Banada has been ranked as high as No. 56, her previous ranking entering the spring 2007 season.
Banada and the rest of the Hurricanes will be back in action March 1 as they host cross-town rival Florida International.
