Tenth-Ranked Hurricanes Drop ACC Opener at No. 20 FSU
Feb. 29, 2008
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –The 10th-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team dropped its Atlantic Coast Conference opener Friday afternoon with a 5-2 loss to No. 20 Florida State at the ScottSpeicherTennisCenter. Sophomore All-American No. 14 Laura Vallverdu won her sixth straight match at the No. 1 position, improving to 12-2 this spring in that spot for UM, but her win came too late as the Seminoles won the first four points to clinch the victory.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
After UM lost the doubles point, No. 70 Michaela Kissell snapped her 11-match winning streak to open the spring season with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Carolin Walter at No. 3. FSU’s No. 46 Katie Rybakova would follow with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 win over No. 80 Romy Farah before the Seminoles clinched the win at No. 6 when Federica Suess edged out Gina Sabatino, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.
“As a team, we need to become much tougher,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “This program was built on toughness, both mentally and physically, and lately we have been extremely inconsistent in that area.”
With the loss, Miami drops to 7-3 overall and 5-3 against ranked opponents while FloridaState improves to 9-1 on the season, with all nine wins coming on its home court.
In addition to Vallverdu’s win at No. 1, Caren Seenauth picked up UM’s other point with a 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory over Ania Rynarzewska at No. 5 before FSU’s Jessica Wente closed out the match with a close 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4) win over No. 62 Bianca Eichkorn.
“I’m disappointed in today’s match,” Yaroshuk-Tews added. “We had a few bright spots in the line-up but as a team, we didn’t show up ready to battle. Losing is one thing, but having a program out-compete you is unacceptable in my book.”
FSU won the first two doubles matches at No. 2 and No. 3 to take the early 1-0 lead over the `Canes. UM’s No. 35 team of Vallverdu and Farah however were able to pick up their ninth win as a pair this spring with an 8-6 victory over FSU’s top duo of Tapiwa Marobela and Ania Rynarzewska.
The Hurricanes will now return to Coral Gables and begin preparation for their first ACC home weekend, March 7-9. UM will play host to No. 24 Clemson Friday, March 7 at 12 p.m. before the `Canes battle No. 2 Georgia Tech Sunday, March 9 at 12 p.m.
No. 20 FloridaState 5, No. 10 Miami 2
Singles
1. No. 14 Laura Vallverdu (UM) def. Lauren Macfarlane (FSU), 7-6 (4), 6-3
2. No. 46 Katie Rybakova (FSU) def. No. 80 Romy Farah (UM), 6-4, 4-6, 6-0
3. Carolin Walter (FSU) def. No. 70 Michaela Kissell (UM), 6-1, 6-2
4. Jessica Wente (FSU) def. No. 62 Bianca Eichkorn (UM), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4)
5. Caren Seenauth (UM) def. Ania Rynarzewska (FSU), 7-6 (1), 6-4
6. Federica Suess (FSU) def. Gina Sabatino (UM), 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 6*, 1, 5, 4
Doubles
1. No. 35 Laura Vallverdu/Romy Farah (UM) def. Tapiwa Marobela/Ania Rynarzewska (FSU), 8-6
2. Carolin Walter/Katie Rybakova (FSU) def. Caren Seenauth/Bianca Eichkorn (UM), 8-1
3. Jessica Wente/Lauren Macfarlane (FSU) def. Gina Sabatino/Michaela Kissell (UM), 8-5
Order of Finish: 2, 3*, 1
