Vallverdu and Kissell Take Win at National Indoor Championships

Nov. 7, 2008

Charlottesville, Va. – University of Miami junior women’s tennis player Laura Vallverdu and sophomore Michaela Kissell collected an 8-1 win in doubles action on Friday to advance in the consolation draw of this year’s National Indoor Championships at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va.

After dropping their opening round match Friday afternoon, the No. 15 ranked duo of the UM Hurricanes dug deep to earn a decisive win over the second-seeded team from Duke composed of Amanda Granson and Melissa Mang. The Duke combo entered the weekend ranked No. 3 by the ITA.

The Miami duo rushed to an 8-1 win in order to move on in the consolation round of this year’s event. They will now face the team of Maria Sanchez and Gabriela Niculescu of the University of Southern California. The Women of Troy duo was upset in the first round by North Carolina’s Sophie Grabinski and Sanaz Marand, 8-0.

That match is scheduled for a 12:30 pm start on Saturday morning.

In singles back draw play, two-time All-American and 14th-ranked Laura Vallverdu was upset for the second time in as many days as she fell in straight sets to Kelcy Tefft of Notre Dame, 6-2, 7-5. Tefft advances on to play Delia Sescioreanu of Auburn-Montgomery on Saturday.

Vallverdu has now dropped three consecutive matches for the first time in her career. However, all three of her losses have come to nationally ranked competition.

As the governing body of collegiate tennis the ITA promotes both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. For complete results from this weekend’s action, please visit the official ITA website at www.itatennis.com.