No. 5 Miami Faces No. 54 Virginia Tech, No. 22 Virginia
March 27, 2009
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team, ranked No. 5 in this week’s national poll, travels to the Commonwealth State this weekend for a showdown with a pair of ranked ACC teams, competing at No. 54 Virginia Tech (Mar. 28) and No. 22 Virginia (Mar. 29). The match against Virginia Tech will be streamed live via the internet through ACC Select.
Miami (16-3, 5-1 ACC) is currently sitting atop the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) standings after defeating a pair of Top 15 teams in UNC and Duke last weekend at home. The `Canes are enjoying a five-match winning streak, with all five wins being over Top 25 opponents.
The Hurricanes are ranked in their highest spot of the season at fifth this week in the Campbell’s/ITA national poll. The previous high for the `Canes was a sixth place showing two weeks ago, before falling to eighth–despite winning the only match during that stretch, a 7-0 decision over in-state and ACC rival Florida State.
The doubles position has become one of great interest for the Hurricanes as they are a perfect 13-0 when collecting the doubles point. They have taken the doubles point in their last four matches, helping to lead UM to 7-0 sweeps in two of those matches during that span.
The top doubles spot for UM, held down by the 33rd-ranked pair of Laura Vallverdu and Michaela Kissell, has been producing nicely as they have teamed for wins in three of their last four matches. The No. 2 doubles position has been steadily advancing as Bianca Eichkorn and Julia Cohen have collected five consecutive wins at that spot for the Hurricanes.
UM has a perfect 10-0 record all-time against Virginia Tech, while holding a record of 9-3 against Virginia. The Hurricanes faced both opponents last year on the road, sweeping the Virginia road trip. The `Canes finished the year 17-6 overall, and stand just one win shy of matching their wins total from a year ago.
Sophomore Julia Cohen was named as this week’s ACC Player of the Week after collecting a 3-0 slate last week against opponents from Arkansas, UNC and Duke. Her biggest triumph of the week was her decisive 6-1, 6-1 defeat of the nation’s fourth-ranked player, Aurelija Miseviciute of Arkansas. All three of Cohen’s were straight-set victories. For Cohen, it was the fifth time this year she’s defeated a Top 25 foe, and the fourth time in the spring she’s beaten a Top 10 opponent.
For information regarding watching the match through ACC Select, please visit www.ACCSelect.com.
About Virginia Tech…
The Virginia Tech Hokies host the Hurricanes with a 10-6 overall record and 1-4 mark in ACC play, while being ranked No. 54 in this week’s ITA poll. The Hokies are on a slide as of late, losing three of their last four matches. Virginia Tech was shutout 7-0 at the hands of Georgia Tech last Sunday. The top of the lineup features Inga Beermann (Sr., Bad Salzuflen, Germany), who has received All-ACC honors twice in her career. Freshman Martha Blakely (Reading, Pa.) has three wins in conference play at the No. 3 singles position. Virginia Tech returned five players from a season ago in which they finished the season with a No. 60 national ranking. The Hokies feature three seniors, two sophomores and four freshmen.
Series vs. Virginia Tech…
The University of Miami owns a 10-0 all-time record against Virginia Tech. UM eighth-year head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews is 8-0 in her career against the Hokies, including a 4-3 victory in the last meeting between the two schools back on Mar. 23, 2008 in Blacksburg, Va. That is the most points allowed to the Hokies in the history of the series, with UM collecting sweeps of Virginia Tech in six of the last eight outings.
About Virginia…
The Virginia Cavaliers enter the weekend ranked No. 22 nationally with a 10-4 overall record and 3-2 mark in the ACC. The Cavaliers have dropped two consecutive games after previously winning six straight. Virginia hosts Florida State on Friday before playing the Hurricanes on Sunday. Virginia freshman Emily Fraser (Rye, N.Y.) and junior Jennifer Stevens (Miami, Fla.) are ranked No. 48 in doubles. Fraser plays in the No. 1 singles spot for the Cavaliers and is ranked No. 81 nationally. Stevens, in the No.3 singles spot, reached the round of 16 of the ITA National Indoor Championships this past fall. Senior Amanda Rales (Bethesda, Md.) and sophomore Neela Vaez (Perrysburg, Ohio) have only lost once as a pair in the No.2 doubles position and are ranked No. 64 nationally.
Series vs. Virginia…
The Hurricanes enjoy a record of 9-3 all-time against the Virginia Cavaliers, including a 6-1 win over the Wahoos a year ago when Virginia was ranked No. 50 in the nation. The `Canes have taken two of the last three matches against the Cavaliers.
Up Next for the `Canes…
After taking part in two matches at Virginia Tech and Virginia, the Hurricanes return home to face NC State (Apr. 3) and Wake Forest (Apr. 5). The match against Wake Forest will be the last regular season home match for the Hurricanes.
