UM Women Advance with 5-2 Win Over #23 Tennessee
Feb. 1, 2009
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Coral Gables, Fla. – Miami took the doubles point and took four-of-six matches in singles to defeat #23 Tennessee, 5-2, in women’s tennis action during the championship match of the ITA National Indoor Qualifier on Sunday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla. With the win, Miami advances to the ITA National Finals in Madison, Wisconsin on Feb. 12-15.
Miami (5-0) fought through a tough doubles point using the strength of No. 1 doubles team Laura Vallverdu and Julia Cohen–whom came from behind after losing the opening game to defeat Caitlin Whoriskey and Zsofia Zubor. UM broke the Lady Vols’ (3-1) serve to advance the score out to 5-3. The Hurricanes duo then took three of the next four points to close-out the match, 8-4. In the process, the Hurricanes No. 1 doubles team advanced their record out to 5-0 in the spring.
Tennessee then took the No. 3 doubles match with Jennifer Meredith and Natalie Pluskota downing UM’s team of Alessa Waibel and Gabriela Mejia, 8-4. Mejia was playing in her first match of the spring season for the `Canes.
With the doubles point still in limbo, UM turned to the No. 14 ranked doubles squad of Bianca Eichkorn and Michaela Kissell. Together, they trailed 3-2 to Tennessee’s Rosalia Alda and Maria Sorbello before five of the next six games to win, 8-4.
Miami collected the doubles point to move out 1-0 in the match.
In singles play, one of the most exciting collegiate matches of the year ensued at the Schiff Tennis Center.
Sophomore Michaela Kissell (No. 50) improved to 5-0 on the year with her fifth consecutive straight-set victory of the spring campaign breezing through UT’s Rosalia Alda–6-0, 6-1. Junior Laura Vallverdu (No. 114) followed Kissell with a straight-set win at the No. 2 position, defeating Natalie Pluskota, 6-4, 6-2 in a very competitive match.
UM sophomore Bianca Eichkorn (No. 20) downed Jennifer Meredith in a highly-competitive straight-set match, 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 4 singles position.
Miami, at that point, clinched the match at 4-0. But the coaches for both teams elected to play the matches out completely prior to the beginning of the weekend, allowing Tennessee to come away with two singles wins at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions, respectively.
At the No. 1 position for Miami, sophomore Julia Cohen (No. 8) fought off the Lady Vols’ Caitlin Whoriskey (No. 92) in a three-set marathon, 6-3, 3-6, 10-2.
With the win, the Hurricanes continue their torrid streak at a perfect 5-0 on the year and have defeated back-to-back ranked opponents this weekend. They will face an opponent to be determined later next weekend in Madison, Wisc.
For more information on the ITA and the entire Kick-Off weekend for the ITA National Indoor Qualifier, please locate your internet browser to www.itatennis.com.
For more information on the University of Miami women’s tennis team, please locate your internet browser to www.hurricanesports.com – the official athletic website for all varsity sports for the University of Miami Hurricanes.
