Sixth-Ranked Miami Travels to Maryland
April 9, 2009
Coral Gables, Fla. – The No. 6 University of Miami Hurricanes women’s tennis team finishes up the regular season at the University of Maryland on Friday, Apr. 10 in an ACC match beginning at 1 p.m. The match will be held at the Tennis Center at College Park on the campus of the University of Maryland, with UM entering the match as the top-ranked team in the league.
Miami (20-3, 9-1 ACC) is riding a nine-match win streak heading into College Park–the third-longest streak during the Paige Yaroshuk-Tews era. In their current stretch, the `Canes have collected four 7-0 sweeps, including three over Top 35 opponents.
In addition, the `Canes have claimed the doubles point eight times (consecutively), with back-to-back doubles match sweeps. Doubles play was an area that Yaroshuk-Tews focused on getting better this year, and it has turned around dramatically.
UM is 5-0 all-time against the Maryland Terrapins, while winning last year’s meeting by a count of 6-1. The other four matches in the series have been 7-0 sweeps for the `Canes, respectively.
The UM doubles team of Michaela Kissell and Laura Vallverdu, ranked No. 15 in the latest Campbell’s/ITA doubles poll, has rolled off five-straight wins at the top flight position. The combo of sophomores Julia Cohen and Bianca Eichkorn, currently No. 47 in the nation, currently owns a nine-match winning streak at the second slot.
In singles play, the Hurricanes have used a variety of players to collect wins. Most notably, Eichkorn (No. 27) has turned in one of the most successful sophomore campaigns in school history. She currently owns a 2008-09 record of 34-6, while holding a nine-match winning streak. Eichkorn’s 34 victories places her in a tie for sixth place all-time at UM for wins in a single-season–sitting alongside former great and NCAA Champion (2007) Audra Cohen who collected the same number during the 2005-06 season.
Two-time All-American junior Laura Vallverdu (No. 22) eclipsed the 20-win plateau last weekend, giving her three consecutive seasons at UM with at least 20 singles victories. She also has a career total of 84 wins in singles competition, giving her sole possession of 11th place all-time in the UM record books. Vallverdu owns a mark of 19-4 in the spring, while sitting 8-2 in the ACC.
Sophomore Julia Cohen is 26-4 on the year with a 14-match winning streak entering Friday’s contest. The Philadelphia native is 17-4 against nationally ranked foes, and is currently seeded No. 4 in the country. Cohen is looking to become the third player on this year’s roster to garner 30-or more wins in a season, hoping to join teammates Eichkorn and Michaela Kissell.
Kissell (No. 51) eclipsed the 30-win plateau last weekend with back-to-back singles victories coming against NC State and Wake Forest. She owns a record of 31-7 on the season (9-1 in the ACC), and is 21-2 on the spring. She holds a streak of nine consecutive wins entering Friday’s match against the Terrapins.
The Hurricanes next match will occur at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships next weekend (Apr. 16-19) in Cary, N.C. For more information on the event, please locate your internet browser to www.TheACC.com.
For more information on University of Miami Women’s Tennis, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. After browsing to the women’s tennis home page, you will find the latest news, stats and match notes pertaining to the Hurricanes Women’s Tennis program.
About Maryland…
The University of Maryland Terrapins enter Friday’s match with a 4-15 overall record and 1-8 mark in ACC play. Maryland is currently on a four-match losing streak and has lost seven of eight matches. Maryland has been shutout 7-0 in each of their last four matches. Elanor Peters plays in the number one singles position for the Terrapins.
Spring Cleaning at Home…
The Hurricanes completed a perfect regular season at home last Sunday with a 7-0 defeat of No. 34 Wake Forest. Miami ended the 2009 regular season portion of the schedule at 14-0 inside the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. That streak actually stands at 16 matches dating back to the 2008 NCAA Regional [Coral Gables]. The last time UM went unbeaten during the regular season at home was during the 2005 campaign when they ended the slate 11-0.
Streaking Into College Park…
UM is currently riding a nine-match winning streak into College Park on Friday afternoon. This is the third-longest streak for the Hurricanes under eighth-year head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews. The longest for the `Canes was a 16-match streak that stretched from the conclusion of the 2005 ITA Indoor Tournament until a loss at Georgia Tech–a span of 54 days.
A Pocket Full of Singles…
Miami is 116-23 in singles matches on the year, including a 58-12 mark in the last 10 matches–with nine of those matches coming against nationally ranked competition. Miami has claimed a total of eight shutouts this year, and eight more wins coming by a 6-1 decision. In fact, UM ended their home regular season schedule with back-to-back shutouts of NC State and Wake Forest.
