No. 8 Miami Hurricanes Host No. 15 North Carolina
March 19, 2009
Coral Gables, Fla. – Fresh off a dominating 7-0 victory of No. 21 Arkansas, the eighth-ranked Miami Hurricanes women’s tennis squad play host to No. 15 North Carolina on Friday at noon in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matchup at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables.
Miami (14-3, 3-1 ACC) enters the contest having won three consecutive matches, including back-to-back home sweeps of No. 24 Florida State and No. 21 Arkansas. Friday’s match serves as Miami’s third home match in the current four-match home swing, as well as the second match in three days. This will also be the Hurricanes’ 11th consecutive ranked opponent.
In their last match against the Razorbacks, No. 6 Julia Cohen and No. 24 Laura Vallverdu, looked ever-so impressive with dominating straight-set wins against ranked opponents. Cohen defeated Aurelija Miseviciute (No. 4) on a 6-1, 6-1 line. Meanwhile, Vallverdu took a 6-2, 6-2 win over Anouk Tigu (No. 68).
Four Hurricanes are ranked in the latest singles polls, including Cohen–winner of her last eight matches, jumping up to No. 6. She was previously ranked 13th for the past two weeks.
This will be just the fourth meeting all-time between the Tar Heels and Hurricanes, with Miami holding a slight 2-1 advantage in the series. However, the Tar Heels of UNC claimed the last meeting back in 2007 by a count of 5-2 in Chapel Hill. Miami won the previous two meetings prior to that 2007 decision.
The Tar Heels have won five of their last seven matches, while owning ACC wins over Wake Forest and NC State, respectively.
Live stats for the event will be available through the University of Miami athletic website by visiting www.hurricanesports.com.
About North Carolina…
The University of North Carolina enters the match on Friday sporting a 12-4 record (2-0 ACC) on the year. They are currently ranked No. 15 in the latest Campbell’s/ITA national poll, with No. 1 singles player Sanaz Marand (No. 47) being the only ranked player for the Tar Heels. UNC counters with two ranked doubles pairs, including the No. 1 doubles team of Marand and Sophie Grabinski at No. 4 in the nation. UNC has won six of their last eight matches, and own ACC wins over NC State and Wake Forest, respectively.
Series vs. North Carolina…
Miami owns the 12-2 advantage all-time in this series, but it’s UNC who won the last meeting between the two teams, 5-2, back in 2007 in Chapel Hill. However, Miami had won the previous two meetings, prior to that 2007 matchup.
Singles Will Do Just Fine…
Miami is 76-19 in their singles matches this year, including a 31-6 mark in their last six matches–all against nationally ranked opponents. Miami has claimed a total of five shutouts this year, and six more wins coming by a 6-1 decision. The Hurricanes may not be collecting the doubles point all the time, but a singles shot will do just fine.
Feeling Right at Home…
After defeating the rival Seminoles of Florida State last week, the Hurricanes of Miami are now 9-0 at home on the year. That stretches their home record to 11 consecutive wins at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center dating back to last year’s NCAA Regional.
Hurricanes Go to No. 8 in ITA Poll…
Despite winning their only match last week in a 7-0 win over rival No. 24 Florida State last week, the Hurricanes fell to No. 8 this week in the Campbell’s/ITA team poll. The `Canes are currently 13-3 on the year, and sit at 3-1 in ACC play.
Up Next for the `Canes…
Miami plays host to seventh-ranked Duke University, as the Blue Devils visit the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on Sunday, Mar. 22 at noon. Admission to the event is free.
