Miami Women's Tennis Continues Play at Duals in the Desert

Nov. 1, 2008

Palm Desert, Calif. – University of Miami sophomore women’s tennis player Michaela Kissell, ranked No. 49 by the ITA in preseason polls, pulled a win on Saturday to highlight action for the `Canes at the Duals in the Desert Classic in Palm Desert, Calif.

Miami sophomore Michaela Kissell (No. 49) began her day in singles play with a win over Krista Damico of Texas, 6-2, 6-1. For Kissell, the win today snapped a string of consecutive losses to ranked opponents. She runs her singles record for the fall out to 8-5.

Also known as the Palm Desert Classic, this year’s event is taking place at the Moore Tennis Academy. The event is broken down into six different flights with the expected position players from each participating team throughout the season taking part in each flight, respectively.

In other singles action, freshman Gabriela Mejia fell in her only match of the day, 6-0, 6-0, to Gabriela Niculescu of USC–ranked No. 38 by the ITA. Fellow freshman Alessa Waibel also lost her singles match to Alexandra Luc of Clemson in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

In doubles play, the team of Mejia and Waibel took a walkover victory against Northwestern’s Georgia Rose and Maria Mosolova. Mejia would not play the next round of doubles, however, as teammate Kissell stepped in to join Waibel.

Kissell and Waibel fought hard, but eventually fell 8-5 to Maggie Mello and Krista Damico of Texas.

Another round of singles play for all participating Hurricanes continues tomorrow back at the Palm Desert Tennis Center. That will serve as the last round of play at this year’s annual event.