Nov. 1, 2007

COLUMBUS, OHIO. – University of Miami junior All-American Daniel Vallverdu (Valencia, Venezuela) used straight sets to pick up a first-round victory in singles play on Thursday evening at the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championship hosted by Ohio State at the Racquet Club of Columbus.

Miami’s 19th ranked junior defeated No. 96 Kellen Damico of Texas, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to Friday’s second round of competition to take on the winner of tonight’s match between No. 18 Andre Begemann of Pepperdine and No. 38 Clancy Shields of Boise State.

Vallverdu opened Thursday in doubles competition with Hurricane freshman Carl Sundberg (Oslo, Norway). The tandem fell in a tough first-round match to Virginia’s top-ranked pair of Somdev Devvarman and Treat Huey, 9-8 (3). It was the first loss of the fall season for the Miami duo, who had won six straight entering today’s competition.

Vallverdu returns to the court in Columbus on Friday, while the remaining members of Miami’s men’s tennis squad opens competition in Tallahassee at the FSU Invitational, which runs from Nov. 2-5.

ITA National Indoor Championship Results
Singles First Round
No. 19 Daniel Vallverdu (Miami) def. No. 96 Kellen Damico (Texas), 6-4, 6-3
Doubles First Round
No. 1 Somdev Devvarman/Treat Huey (Virginia) def. Daniel Vallverdu/Carl Sundberg (Miami), 9-8 (3)