Miami Tennis Falls to Stanford in the NCAA Quarterfinals
May 21, 2007
Athens, G.A. – Ninth-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team concluded their run of the NCAA Championships as they fell to three-time defending champion, No. 1-ranked Stanford University, 4-1 in the quarterfinal round this afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Center, on the campus of the University of Georgia.
Miami (22-7) reached the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second consecutive season after upsetting eighth-ranked Southern California in the Round of 16, Friday evening.
“When you get to the elite eight of the NCAA tournament, you can’t say you had a bad season”, commented head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. ” I’m proud of these girls, and I’m proud of how far they have come this season.”
The doubles match got underway with both teams battling it out. The Hurricanes kept it close at the Nos. 3 and 2 spots as juniors Romy Farah and Caren Seenauth, and the doubles duo of senior Audrey Banada and junior Gina Sabatino fell just two games shy in their respective matches at 6-8.
As singles got underway, Stanford posted the first two points in the Nos. 3 and 6 positions when 14th ranked Celia Durkin claimed a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 48 ranked senior Banada, followed by Sabatino falling to No. 41- ranked Lindsay Burdette, 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 6 slot.
Top-ranked junior Audra Cohen landed the next singles point in favor of the Hurricanes, as she defeated eighth-ranked Theresa Logar. Cohen swept her opponent in the first set 6-0, and held her to just three games in the next at 6-3.
All eyes were on court Nos. 4 and 5, as Stanford was one game shy from clinching the match on both courts. Stanford’s No. 4 singles player No. 96 Whitney Deason extended her match-point over Farah, 6-2, 6-4 to clinch the win.
Not far behind, 21st-ranked freshman Laura Vallverdu was faced with a match point at the No. 2 position, as she was up 7-5, 5-2 over No. 17 Anne Yelsey before the match was suspended.
“Stanford played a great match, and I’m proud of every one of the girls, despite them struggling with nerves.”Cohen, Vallverdu, Banada, and Farah will now concentrate on the NCAA Individual Championships which begin with the singles Round of 64 beginning Wednesday May 23 through the 28th.
