No. 9 Miami Tennis Upsets No. 7 Clemson, 4-3 in ACC Action
March 25, 2007
Clemson, S.C. – The ninth ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team upset No. 7 ranked Clemson, 4-3 this afternoon at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center. The Hurricanes advanced 13-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play, while the Tigers fell 12-3 overall and 4-1 in ACC play.
“To take down a team like Clemson on their home courts is extremely difficult”, stated head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. “Today was all about team effort”.
The day started with doubles as Miami captured the point with victories at the No. 2 spot with No. 24 ranked Audra Cohen and Caren Seenauth defeated Federica van Adrichem and Ina Hadziselimovic 8-6, while Ginia Sabatino and Laura Vallverdu posted their second doubles win of the weekend at the No. 3 position. The non-ranked doubles duo posted an 8-6 upset over No. 45 ranked Maria Brito and Alexandra Luc.
“I believe it was some of the best team effort since Vallverdu’s absence”, commented Yaroshuk-Tews.
The Tigers claimed singles wins at the Nos. 2, 5, and 6 spots, but could not hold down Miami’s competitive run at the Nos. 1, 3, and 4 positions.
No. 1 ranked junior Audra Cohen faced No. 85 Estefania Balda at the No. 1 slot. In the first set, Cohen swept Balda 6-0, before the freshman responded with a 6-2 win in the second set to force Cohen into a third-set decision for the first time this season. In the final set, Cohen held her opponent to just three games as she ran with the singles point at 6-3, to remain undefeated on the season.
Non-ranked junior Romy Farah faced No. 67 Carol Salge at the No. 3 slot to claim a 6-4, 7-5 victory, while junior Caren Seenauth defeated Federica van Adrichem 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3.
In the No. 2 position, No. 38 senior Audrey Banada fell to No. 64 Ani Mijacika, 6-3, 7-5, while junior Gina Sabatino fell to Maria Brito in a close battle, 7-5, 7-5 at the No. 5 slot. Freshman Claudia Wasilewski faced Ina Hadziselimovic at the No. 6 position to drop the first set 4-6, and then sweep her opponent 6-0 in the second set. The final set came down to a 7-5 win in favor of Clemson.
“In all, I think our team showed up both mentally and physically”, said Yaroshuk-Tews. “That’s what we need to do every time we step on the court if we want to go far in the tournament”.
Miami will get back into action Friday, March 30 as they host the Hokies of Virginia Tech. The match is set to begin at 12 noon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
UM vs. Clemson Results:
Doubles
1. #12 Salge/Mijacika (CU) def. #22 Farah/Banada (Miami), 8-5
2. #24 Cohen/Seenauth (Miami) def. van Adrichem/Hadziselimovic (CU), 8-6
3. Vallverdu/Sabatino (Miami) def. #45 Brito/Luc (CU), 8-6
Singles
1. #1 Audra Cohen (UM) def. #85 Estefania Balda (CU), 6-0, 2-6, 6-3
2. #64 Ani Mijacika (CU) def. #38 Audrey Banada (UM), 6-3, 7-5
3. Romy Farah (UM) def. #67 Carol Salge (CU), 6-4, 7-5
4. Caren Seenauth (UM) def. Federica van Adrichem (CU), 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3
5. Maria Brito (CU) def. Gina Sabatino (UM), 7-5, 7-5
6. Ina Hadziselimovic (CU) def. Claudia Wasilewski (UM), 4-6, 6-0, 7-5
