No. 12 Miami Returns To Action This Weekend In Virginia
March 21, 2008
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – The 12th-ranked University of Miami women’s tennis team heads to the state of Virginia this weekend as it embarks on the second half of its spring season with a trip to No. 50 Virginia on Saturday and No. 47 Virginia Tech on Sunday.
<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Hurricanes (8-4, 1-2 ACC), who last played March 9, will be in search of their first conference road win when they take on their 11th and 12th opponents this season ranked within the ITA Top 50.
Both matches this weekend are slated for 12 p.m. with UM taking on the Cavaliers at the SnyderTennisCenter in Charlottesville before a quick turnaround trip to Blacksburg the following day to take on the Hokies at 12 p.m. at the Burrows-BurlesonTennisCenter.
Lau and Romy
Sophomore All-American Laura Vallverdu and senior Romy Farah slid into the ITA Top 20 this week at No. 19, having teamed to go 6-4 in UM’s top doubles position in dual match play. The pair has won four of their last five decisions, including wins over FloridaState’s top team March 3 in Tallahassee and Clemson’s then-No. 12 team of Ani Mijacika and Carol Salge, 8-6, March 7 in Coral Gables.
Hurricanes in the Rankings
Vallverdu, who moved up one spot in the singles rankings from No. 22 to No. 21, leads four Hurricanes ranked among the nation’s Top 125 players. Freshman Michaela Kissell made the biggest leap of the four, moving from No. 60 to No. 49, while Farah jumped from No. 83-to-No. 73 and freshman Bianca Eichkorn moved back into the rankings at No. 104.
ACC in the Rankings
The Hurricanes, who have been consistently ranked between No. 7 and No. 12 all season, remain one of five ACC teams in the Top 15 as UM moves into the second half of its spring season. Georgia Tech stills sits at No. 2 overall behind top-ranked Northwestern, while Duke is ninth, the `Canes sit at No. 12, North Carolina is 13th and FloridaState sneaks in at No. 15.
About Virginia
Virginia enters the weekend with a record of 6-7 overall and 2-1 in ACC action. The Cavaliers enter play this weekend having dropped four of five, including a pair of 6-1 non-conference losses to No. 4 Baylor and No. 15 TCU last weekend in Texas. Amanda Rales, Jennifer Stevens and Maggie Yahner usually hold down positions one through three respectively for UVa.
About Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech comes in at 12-5 overall and 0-3 in league play. The Hokies come in having lost two in a row at No. 52 NC State and at No. 37 Wake Forest. Prior to those road losses, Virginia Tech had won 7-of-9, including a wins over No. 51 Purdue, No. 25 VCU and No. 63 East Carolina. Inga Beermann leads VT at the top, going 6-5 in the No. 1 position and 18-9 overall this season. Yasmin Hamza is 10-2 in the Hokies’ No 2 position while Jessica Long has spent the majority of her time at No. 3, going 9-4.
All-Time Series
Miami is a combined 17-3 against the ACC’s two teams from Virginia. The `Canes own a mark of 8-3 all-time against Saturday’s opponent Virginia and a perfect 9-0 record against Virginia Tech. Last season, UM swept both opponents, 7-0, when they met in Coral Gables the weekend of March 30 – April 1.
Up Next
After this weekend’s trip to Virginia, the Hurricanes will return home for their final regular season home weekend when they play host to Duke, March 28 at 6 p.m. and North Carolina, March 30 at 12 p.m. Both matches will be played at the NeilSchiffTennisCenter where admission is free to the public.
