Ninth-Seeded Miami Downs Alabama A&M to Advance to the NCAA Second Round
May 12, 2007
Coral Gables, Fla. -The ninth-seeded University of Miami women’s tennis team swept past Alabama A&M (16-4), 4-0, in the first-round of the 2007 NCAA Women’s Tennis Coral Gables Regional held at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center Saturday afternoon. The Hurricanes (20-6) advance to Sunday’s 12 p.m. second-round match where they will take on No. 35 Wichita State (27-2) who upset No. 25 South Carolina, 4-3, in the first match of the day.
The Hurricanes got under way later than scheduled due to the first match running over. However, Miami quickly jumped on the board as they claimed the doubles point with sweeps at the Nos. 3 and 2 spots respectively. Senior Audrey Banada and junior Gina Sabatino defeated Monique Jones and Dujana Grant, 8-0, followed by the doubles pair of junior Romy Farah and Caren Seenauth taking doen Me’Shala Johnson and Brittany Jelks 8-0. At the No. 1 position, 17th-ranked Audra Cohen and Laura Vallverdu kept the momentum going, as they defeated the Bulldogs’ Charlene Tsangamwe and Batsi Bvunzawabaya, 8-1.
The match was full of scoring streaks, as Sabatino, Seenauth, and Vallverdu all swept their opponents, 6-0, 6-0 in their respective singles matches for the first -round victory.
Sabatino took on freshman Djuana Grant (St. Louis, MO.) at the No. 6 position, while Seenauth faced freshman Brittany Jelks (Greenville, MS.) at the No. 5 position. Competing for the Hurricanes at the No. 2 slot, 21st-ranked freshman Laura Vallverdu went up against senior Monique Jones (Lumberton, N.J.), to clinch the match.
Miami and Wichita State will square-off Sunday at 12 p.m. at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. Tickets will be sold at the entrance and are $5 for adults and $3 for children. The match can also be followed via live stats on www.hurricanesports.com.
NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championships – First Round
Neil Schiff Tennis Center – Coral Gables, Fla.
Alabama A&M vs. University of Miami
May 12, 2006
#9 University of Miami 4, Alabama A&M University 0
Singles competition
1. Charlene Tsangamwe (AAMU) vs. #1 Audra Cohen (UM) no result
2. #21 Laura Vallverdu (UM) def. Regina Monique Jones (AAMU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Me’Shala Johnson (AAMU) vs. #48 Audrey Banada (UM) no result
4. Batsi Bvunzawabaya (AAMU) vs. Romy Farah (UM) no result
5. Caren Seenauth (UM) def. Brittany Jelks (AAMU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Gina Sabatino (UM) def. Djuana Grant (AAMU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #17 Audra Cohen/Laura Vallverdu (UM) def. Charlene Tsangamwe/Batsi Bvunzawabaya (AAMU) 8-1
2. Romy Farah/Caren Seenauth (UM) def. Me’Shala Johnson/Brittany Jelks (AAMU) 8-0
3. Audrey Banada/Gina Sabatino (UM) def. Regina Monique Jones/Djuana Grant (AAMU) 8-0
Match Notes:Alabama A&M University 16-4University of Miami 20-6, 8-3 ACC; National ranking #9Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,5,2)
