Vallverdu and Farah Moving Into NCAA Doubles Round of 16
May 22, 2008
TULSA, Okla. – The University of Miami doubles tandem of sophomore All-American Laura Vallverdu and senior Romy Farah are advancing into the NCAA Round of 16 after a 6-4, 6-2 win over Vanderbilt’s Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Women’s Tennis Doubles Championship Thursday evening at the University of Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Just hours after Vallverdu won her second round singles match to advance to the round of 16 in singles play, she paired with teammate Farah to pick her up second win of the day and the first NCAA doubles victory for both players.
No. 20 Vallverdu and Farah (18-6) edged out No. 21 Taylor and Ulery (15-8) in the first set, 6-4, to take the early lead. In the second set, UM’s top doubles duo made quick work of their opponents from Vanderbilt, clinching the match with a 6-2 win.
“Romy played one of her best doubles matches of the season,” assistant coach Jeff Thomsen said. “As a senior, she wanted to go out there, make a statement and represent the University of Miami. There’s no doubt she accomplished what she set out to do today.”
The pair, who have now won six of their last seven matches together, will now face the nation’s top-ranked team of Tracey Lin and Riza Zalameda of UCLA Friday at 6:30 p.m. EST.
Earlier in the day in singles play, No. 19 Vallverdu (31-9) won for the 18th time in her last 20 matches when she defeated No. 49 Gabriela Niculescu of Southern California, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. She is moving on to face the nation’s top-ranked player, Aurelija Miseviciute of Arkansas, on Friday for the opportunity to move into the quarterfinals. Vallverdu’s victory of Niculescu Thursday secures the sophomore’s All-American status for the second straight season in singles competition.
Match times for Friday’s Round of 16 in both singles and doubles will be announced following the conclusion of play Thursday.
For more information on the 2008 NCAA Women’s Tennis Singles and Doubles Championship, visit Tulsa’s NCAA Championship page.
NCAA Doubles Round of 32
No. 20 Laura Vallverdu/Romy Farah (Miami) def. No. 21 Amanda Taylor/Courtney Ulery (VU), 6-4, 6-2
