Women's Tennis Ranked 11th In Latest ITA Poll

March 4, 2008

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team, in preparation for its first Atlantic Coast Conference weekend at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center, is ranked 11th nationally this week in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings released Tuesday.

The Hurricanes (7-3, 0-1 ACC) are currently one of five ACC teams ranked in the ITA’s Top 15. Georgia Tech, a team UM will host Sunday in Coral Gables, leads the group at No. 2, followed by Duke at No. 10, the `Canes at No. 11, Florida State at No. 12 and North Carolina in a tie at No. 13.

Miami, coming off a tough loss at Florida State this past weekend, has three individuals ranked in the Top 100, including sophomore All-American Laura Vallverdu at No. 22, freshman Michaela Kissell at No. 60 and senior Romy Farah at No. 83. Farah remains a part of UM’s two ranked doubles teams, pairing with Vallverdu to rank 24th and fellow senior Caren Seenauth to rank 56th.

Vallverdu continues to be the catalyst for the Hurricanes at the top of the lineup, having won her last six matches at No. 1 and 12 of 14 this spring in UM’s top spot. She currently has a team-high 19 wins overall and is 8-2 in the No. 1position during the dual match season, with three of those wins coming against opponents ranked in the nation’s Top 40.

Kissell, who had her 11-match winning streak to open the spring season snapped at FSU, remains a force towards the top for UM, boasting a record of 2-0 at No. 2, 5-1 at No.3 and 1-0 at No. 4. Farah, who has spent the majority of her time at No. 2, is 6-4 in dual match play, with a mark of 4-4 at No. 2 and 2-0 at No. 3.

In doubles competition, Farah and Vallverdu are 8-3 as a pair overall and 5-3 in dual match play at No. 1 while Farah and Seenauth have a team-high 11 wins together this season.

The Hurricanes will host No. 42 Clemson on Friday, March 7 at 12 p.m. at the Schiff Tennis Center before facing the second-ranked Yellow Jackets Sunday, March 9 at 12 p.m.