No. 11 Miami Wins 11 of 14 Matches Saturday at FGCU
Jan. 19, 2008
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The second day of play at the FGCU/Johan Kriek Classic in Fort Myers concluded Saturday with the No. 11 University of Miami women’s tennis team winning six of eight singles matches against opponents from Stetson and five of six doubles matches versus opponents from Florida International and UCF.
The Hurricanes opened the day sweeping all three doubles matches against teams from No. 31 FIU. The duo of Laura Vallverdu and Romy Farah came away with an 8-5 win over Liset Brito and Priscilla Castillo while Caren Seenauth and Bianca Eichkorn defeated Maria Dolores Pazo and Maria Spenceley, 8-7. Michaela Kissell and Gina Sabatino faced a combination of FIU’s Maria Jose Vallasciana and Stetson’s Megan Jones and won easily, 8-2.
UM would turn right around and take on opponents from Stetson in singles play to begin the afternoon slate. Each of the top five match-ups would easily go to Miami, with No. 29 Vallverdu, Farah, Eichkorn, Kissell and Seenauth all cruising to convincing wins. Vallverdu, Farah and Kissell would all win their respective matches by the score of 6-1, 6-1, Seenauth defeated Catherine Canady, 6-1, 6-0 and Eichkorn shutout Unnati Purushotham, 6-0, 6-0.
In addition to UM’s top five winning, Jenna Osborne, playing her first match as a Hurricane, won close battle with Samantha Lange, 9-7.
Claudia Wasilewski and Sabatino each suffered close defeats with Wasilewski falling 6-2, 0-6, 10-6 to Jones and Sabatino dropping a close battle with Katherine Nowicki, 8-5.
Miami would close out the afternoon winning two of three doubles matches against teams from UCF. Vallverdu and Farah took care of business against Elvira Serrot and Jennifer Carati with an 8-5 win while Kissell and Sabatino won, 8-5, over Kenza Belbacha and Anna Yakimchenkova. The only doubles loss of the day for the Hurricanes came when Seenauth and Osborne, playing for the first time together, fell to Jenny Frisell and Kyla McNicol, 8-5.
In addition to sweeping opponents from Wichita State, 7-0, in singles play on Friday, the `Canes have started the season winning 13 of 15 singles and five of six doubles matches.
The tournament, which is a non-team scoring event that will only count towards individual records, will continue on Sunday with Miami opening the day at 11 a.m. against opponents from Dartmouth in singles play.
Doubles results vs. FIU (11 a.m.)
Laura Vallverdu/Romy Farah def. Liset Brito/Priscilla Castillo, 8-5
Caren Seenauth/Bianca Eichkorn def. Maria Dolores Pazo/Maria Spenceley, 8-7
Michaela Kissell/Gina Sabatino def. Maria Jose Vallasciana/Megan Jones (Stetson), 8-2
Singles results vs. Stetson (1 p.m.)
Laura Vallverdu def. Valentina Galbarini, 6-1, 6-1
Romy Farah def. Breanna Atkinson, 6-1, 6-1
Bianca Eichkorn def. Unnati Purushotham, 6-0, 6-0
Michaela Kissell def. Natalie Gorham, 6-1, 6-1
Caren Seenauth def. Catherine Canady, 6-1, 6-0
Megan Jones def. Claudia Wasilewski, 6-2, 0-6, 10-6
Katherine Nowicki def. Gina Sabatino, 8-5
Jenna Osborne def. Samantha Lange, 9-7
Doubles results vs. UCF (3 p.m.)
Laura Vallverdu/Romy Farah def. Elvira Serrot/Jennifer Carati, 8-2
Jenny Frisell/Kyla McNicol def. Jenna Osborne/Caren Seenauth, 8-5
Gina Sabatino/Michaela Kissell def. Kenza Belbacha/Anna Yakimchenkova, 8-5
